April 11, The College of William and Mary’s athletics department announced Erin Dickerson Davis as the new head coach of the women’s basketball team at Zable Stadium. She is the sixth coach in the team’s history.
“At every stop in her career, from her playing days at Northwestern to her coaching stints at several different universities, Erin has instilled in her teams the desire to compete for championships,”William and Mary Director of Athletics Brian D. Mann said. “William and Mary’s women’s basketball already has a great foundation in place. From this moment on we will be working with Erin to make our basketball aspirations a reality.”
Dickerson Davis played Division I basketball at Northwestern University, where she played 112 games in four seasons. While working at Georgetown University as an assistant coach, she was named to the WBCA’s “30 Under 30.”
“Erin has a track record of success at every level and she is more than ready to take the reins of her own program,” Mann said.
According to Dickerson Davis, there were a multitude of reasons that attracted her to Williamsburg.
“I wanted to come to William and Mary because of its amazing academic reputation and the competitive basketball conference,” Dickerson Davis said. “I believe in the amazing things that can be achieved here, especially with the support and commitment to the athletic department at this institution.”
Dickerson Davis further emphasized her desire to coach in the CAA.
“You can sell the life after basketball that these young women want to know about,” she said. “You can sell that to them and their families along with a pretty stellar basketball career in a great conference like the CAA.”
During her press conference, Dickerson Davis discussed the importance of working with the players.
“I consider myself a players’ coach that will bring energy, passion and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” Dickerson Davis said. “I am a coach that will bring 100% of myself every single day for my colleagues, my staff and our players.”
The new coach also noted the importance of players’ dedication both on and off the court.
“I will recruit student athletes that compete in the classroom as much as they compete on the basketball court. We will recruit young women who are committed to developing themselves holistically as a person, as a student and as an athlete,” Dickerson Davis said.
Dickerson Davis first met with the team last Wednesday, April 13.
“We have an excellent group of young women here and I think they have only scratched the surface of what they can do,” she said.
With an eye to the future, Dickerson Davis will be busy this offseason. The program has at least one scholarship to offer and a large recruiting class to fill.
“I see great potential in this team. They want to compete, and I have heard nothing but good things,” she said.
The Tribe finished last season 10-20 and lost to Delaware in the first round of the CAA Championship.