Jessica Holman Hired As Belmont Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach

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Nashville native and Vanderbilt alumni Jessica Holman has joined the Belmont women’s basketball team as an assistant coach.

Holman grew up on Compton Ave. directly across from Belmont’s campus and attended Hillsboro High School where she was a finalist for Tennessee Miss Basketball.

“I’m excited to welcome Jessica Holman to our coaching staff,” says head coach Bart Brooks. “Growing up across the street from Belmont and competing collegiately in the SEC, she’s been deeply rooted in the Nashville community her entire life.  Jessica embodies everything that’s important to our program at Belmont; she’s an incredibly smart and talented person with the humility of a servant leader. Our student-athletes will benefit greatly from Jessica’s guidance in basketball and beyond, and I can’t wait for our alumni and fan base to meet her!”

Holman was a four-year letterwinner at Vanderbilt University where she received a bachelors degree in Human & Organizational Development and her master’s degree in education with a concentration in Community Development & Action. Holman won 102 games at Vanderbilt and was part of four consecutive NCAA Tournament teams, including Sweet Sixteen appearances in 2008 and 2009. She was also a candidate for the 2010 Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, which honors the attributes of NCAA Division I senior student-athletes in four areas: community, classroom, character and competition.

Holman joins the Belmont women’s basketball program after spending the previous nine-plus years as Senior Director of Employee and Community Relations for Harvest Hands CDC, a Christ-centered non-profit dedicated to educational opportunities, healthy living, spiritual formation and economic development in South Nashville.

Belmont To Play In ESPN Thanksgiving Invitational Tournament

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The Belmont Bruins will participate in the 2021 ESPN Events Invitational in Orlando, Florida the week of Thanksgiving.

The event will take place November 25-28 from HP Field House at ESPN Wide World of Sports in Kissimmee, Florida with all games broadcasted on the ESPN family of networks. Joining Belmont in this year’s eight-team field will be Alabama, Dayton, Drake, Iona, Kansas, Miami (FL), and North Texas.

“We’re tremendously excited to be in the ESPN Events Invitational,” says Belmont head coach Casey Alexander. “It is an honor to participate in such a prestigious event that will provide our program with national exposure. As is the case with ESPN Events, this is an impressive field comprised of programs that are proven winners. We look forward to having Belmont fans join us in Orlando during Thanksgiving week.”

This past season, Belmont went 26-4, which included 21 consecutive victories, 30 consecutive conference victories (over two seasons, including tournament), national Top 25 poll votes eight consecutive weeks and the program’s 12th regular season conference championship in 16 years.

Belmont Men’s Basketball Coach Casey Alexander Named Coach Of The Year

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Casey Alexander. Photo: Courtesy of Belmont Athletics

Belmont men’s basketball coach Casey Alexander has been named Coach of the Year by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA.)

Alexander led the Bruins to one of the best regular seasons ever winning 30 consecutive Ohio Valley Conference victories and ending the season with a record of 26-4. The Bruins also had the most wins in the country tied with eventual NCAA Tournament finalist Gonzaga.

An alumni of Belmont, Alexander become head coach in 2018 replacing legendary head coach Rick Byrd who won over 800 games in 30 years with the Bruins. Since then, Alexander led Belmont to a 52-11 record, consecutive Ohio Valley Conference regular season championships, and the 2020 OVC Tournament title

Alexander was also a candidate for the Naismith Men’s Coach of the Year and finalist for the Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year Award, the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Award, and the Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award.

Alexander’s award comes just a day after women’s basketball coach Bart Brooks was awarded women’s Coach of the Year by the TSWA.

Belmont Women’s Basketball Coach Bart Brooks Named Coach Of The Year

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Belmont women’s basketball coach Bart Brooks. Photo: Courtesy of the Belmont Vision/Bronte Lebo.

Belmont women’s basketball coach Bart Brooks has been named 2020-21 Coach of the Year by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association (TSWA.)

Brooks led the Bruins to their third Ohio Valley Conference Championship in four years as well as the program’s first ever NCAA Tournament win, beating No. 5 seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs 64-59. They are the first OVC team to win a NCAA Tournament game since 1990.

The Bruins’ record of 21-6 was the sixth consecutive season where they won 20 or more games. Brooks picked up his 100th win in the NCAA Tournament and he ranks 10th nationally in win percentage (.794) among active head coaches.

Brooks, a Wyoming native, joined the program in 2017 from DePaul as an assistant coach. He has become the third-fastest head coach to 100 career victories in NCAA Division I women’s basketball history.

Former Tennessee Volunteer Ron Slay Joins 104.5 The Zone

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Ron Slay. Photo: Courtesy of 104.5 The Zone

Former University of Tennessee basketball star Jon Slay has officially joined 104.5 The Zone’s afternoon show 3HL with Dawn Davenport and Brent Dougherty.

Slay, a Nashville native, played high school basketball at Pearl-Cohn High School followed by prep school Oak Hill Academy. He went on to play basketball at Tennessee and as a senior, was named the Associated Press SEC player of the year and a third-team All American. Slay was also named to the All-NBA D-League Second Team. After college he played professionally in Europe and around the globe for more than a decade. He is considered one of the most entertaining basketball players that the Vols have ever had.

“Our listeners have made it clear that they want us to hire Ron Slay, says Paul Mason, Program Director at 104.5 The Zone. “I am happy to say we listened and we are thrilled Ron Slay will be joining Brent Dougherty and Dawn Davenport on 3HL. 3HL is already a great show, and I look forward to seeing it go to even higher levels.”

“I am both delighted and eager to join the 104.5 The Zone and 3HL families,” says Slay. “I hope to bring joy, energy, and insight to Nashville sports enthusiasts each day. LOCK THE DOOR…LET’S GO!”

3HL is live from every week from Monday to Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on 104.5 The Zone FM and on 104.5 The Zone’s website.

Vanderbilt Hires Shea Ralph As New Women’s Basketball Head Coach

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Pictured: Shea Ralph. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Vanderbilt Athletics has announced the hire of Shea Ralph as the newest women’s basketball head coach.

Ralph joins the Commodores after spending 13 season with the University of Connecticut’s women’s basketball program as an assistant coach. As a player at UConn and then as an assistant, Ralph was a part of 12 Final Four Appearances and won seven National Championships.

“It is with great honor and a full heart that I join Vanderbilt University as the next women’s basketball head coach,” says Ralph. “I have always been motivated and inspired by people who have a passionate pursuit of excellence. Vanderbilt’s rich, storied tradition of excellence speaks for itself, but I believe what sets us apart is the people. I am so excited to work alongside our amazing community in elevating our women’s basketball program back to an elite level. Together we will invest in each other and build a greatness that transcends the game of basketball.”

A Fayetteville, North Carolina native became a superstar athlete through playing for UConn and, though suffering from numerous knee injuries, she was a first-team All-American and the Honda Award winner as national player of the year while leading Connecticut to a national championship in 2000.

Ralph began her coaching career as an assistant at the University of Pittsburgh, but returned to Connecticut and joined Geno Auriemma’s coaching staff in 2008. During her time with the Huskies, she recruited and worked with players like Paige Bueckers, Maya Moore, and Breanna Stewart while mentoring 21 WNBA draft picks, including nine top-five picks and three No. 1 overall selections.

“Coach Ralph has earned the opportunity to take the reins of our women’s basketball program and transform it into what we all know is possible,” says Vanderbilt Vice Chancellor for Athletics and University Affairs and Athletic Director Candice Lee. “She knows what winning looks like, and she has the background and experience—as both a player and a coach—to develop our student-athletes into champions.”

Ralph is the sixth head coach in Vanderbilt women’s basketball history.