PISCATAWAY, NJ – Coquese Washington announced its second addition to the Rutgers women’s basketball coaching staff, welcoming Nneka Enemkpali. An established and proven scout, Enemkpali joins the team as an assistant coach and director of scouting for the Scarlet Knights.
“The addition of Nneka Enemkpali to our staff is an incredible gift to the Scarlet Knight program,” Washington said. “Nneka had a remarkable career as a player in Texas, whose work ethic helped her achieve outstanding success on and off the court. We are very fortunate to have Nneka here, sharing her experiences in as an elite player and coach, and it’s exciting to imagine all the ways she will have a positive impact on this team.”
The two recent additions to the coaching staff, Enemkpali and Jeanine Wasielewski, joined the team following the NCAA Division I Board’s modernization rules for practice limits. Decided in January 2023, the women’s basketball programs were granted permission to add two additional assistant coaches.
Enemkpali recently spent two seasons as an assistant coach on Lindsay Gottlieb’s USC coaching staff, while also serving as scouting coordinator last season.
While in Troy, Enemkpali helped recruit and develop historical talent for the Trojans. In her first year as scouting coordinator, Enemkpali led efforts to lure the No. 1 prospect for the Class of 2023. She also coached Kadi Sissoko, who was picked by the Phoenix Mercury with the 29th overall pick. total in the 2023 WNBA Daft and was All-Pac 12 honored. Additionally, last season, Enemkpali guided Rayah Marshall to All-PAC 12 and All-Defense honors as a sophomore. She was later selected to represent the United States at the 2023 Americup games.
To end the 2022-23 campaign, Enemkpali helped USC capture a No. 8 seed in his first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014.
Enemkpali spent the 2020-21 season as an assistant at UNLV following two seasons in that role at UC Santa Barbara, where she oversaw post player skill development, helping develop Ila Lane at rebounder No. 1 in the country and Big West Freshman of the 2019-2020 Gauchos of the Year. Along with the rebels, she also guided Desi Rae young to Mountain West Freshman of the Year.
That year, Enemkpali herself was honored as one of the 50 impactful assistants in D1 women’s basketball named by Silver Waves Media.
Prior to UC Santa Barbara, Enemkpali served two seasons as video coordinator at Gonzaga. In those years, the Bulldogs went 53-13 overall and won two West Coast Conference titles to make NCAA appearances in 2017 and 2018.
Enemkpali graduated from Texas in 2015, where she averaged 10.0 points and 8.0 rebounds in her four years, earning three All-Big 12 selections and finishing 10th all-time in career rebounds (899) and 30th in career points. (1116). She was also a three-time Academic All-Big 12 winner as a Longhorn and was recognized as a Senior CLASS Award Second Team All-American for excellence in community, class, character and competition.
After earning her degree in African American and African Diaspora Studies in Texas, Enemkpali was drafted 26th overall (third round) in the 2015 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm, although her playing career was cut short by a knee injury sustained in his eldest. season in Texas.
Originally from Pflugerville, Texas, she attended Pflugerville High School.
“I am thrilled to join the rich tradition and legacy of Rutgers women’s basketball,” Enemkpali said. “Coquese has a clear vision of where she wants to grow this program. I look forward to working alongside her and the incredible staff to support this program and our student-athletes.”
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