Aug. 3, 2005

Poughkeepsie, N.Y. - Marist women's basketball Head Coach Brian Giorgis is pleased to announce the addition of two new assistant coaches to the staff. LaTanya Collins and Tyecia Powell will come aboard to help the Red Foxes in their quest for a third consecutive MAAC Regular Season Title. They will be called on to assist in all areas of the program, with Collins focusing primarily on recruiting and Powell on player development.

"I think LaTanya and Tyecia are both great additions to our team," said two-time MAAC Coach of the Year Giorgis. "They bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm to this program. LaTanya has a wealth of recruiting experience, which is exactly what I was looking for; and while this is Tyecia's first coaching job, she was a starter at UMBC who will really be able to help our post players."

Collins comes to Marist after serving as an assistant coach at St. Augustine's College. At Marist, she will assist with all aspects of the program, particularly recruiting. She will also assist with game/practice preparation and execution, development of guards and team travel. During the 2004-05 season, her St. Augustine's squad finished third in the CIAA (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association), led the CIAA in 3-point percentage and achieved the highest team grade point average. There, Collins' responsibilities included recruiting, planning team travel, academic advisement and working with the team's guards.

A Richmond, Virginia native, Collins earned her bachelor's degree in biology from Virginia State in 2000. She then served as an assistant coach at her alma mater from 2002-03. While at Virginia State, she helped the program to a second-place finish in its division and coached three all-conference selections and two All-Americans.

She also has extensive experience at the high school level, having most recently worked as an assistant girls' basketball coach at Highland Springs High School, for the 2003-04 season. She was also the head girls' basketball coach at Charles City High School from Sept. 2000 to June 2003. During that same time, she was also the head boys' junior varsity coach for Charles City.

Tyecia Powell joins the Red Foxes after a five-year playing career at America East contender, University of Maryland - Baltimore County. She will work in all aspects of the program including player development, working with post-players, academic advisement and community outreach. Powell graduated from UMBC with a bachelor's degree in English in 2005. She also received her Certificate in Elementary Education from UMBC.

While at UMBC, Powell fought through injuries, missing her freshman season with a shoulder injury and her senior year with a torn ACL. Despite her misfortune, Powell was a two-year team captain and a starter for the Retrievers during career. A Baltimore native, Powell led Western High School to four state finals during her playing career there.

In addition to her playing experience, Powell coached at the Good Shepherd Center as well as the UMBC girls and boys summer camps for four years. This past year, she was a student teacher at the Relay Elementary School in Baltimore while also working at the Fellowship of Lights Youth Group home and the YMCA.

The Red Foxes were 22-7 last season, including a school-record 16-game winning streak before falling in the MAAC Championship game. Marist, which returns three starters and 11 letterwinners from last year's team, kicks off the season by facing off with UConn in the Preseason NIT.