Nicole Anderson is in her first year as the head women's basketball coach at Texas A&M University-Commerce, has been "tapped" as the Keynote Speaker for next Monday night's MLK Celebration in Sulphur Springs, at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center.

Anderson comes from an experienced background in both playing and coaching basketball at multiple levels. She has spent the past six years as the recruiting coordinator and assistant coach at Division I member Long Beach State University, and at the Hoop School in Long Beach, Calif., where she is the founder and CEO.

From 2000-2004, she was as an assistant coach at the University of San Diego and San Diego State, and head coach at the University of New Haven. Anderson was heavily involved in the recruiting process at all universities, and contributed in compliance, admissions and academics as well.

Prior to her college coaching career, Anderson was head coach at Francis Parker High School in San Diego, Calif., and led the team to three state CIF semifinals, a quarterfinal appearance and a No. 3 state ranking.

Upon her hiring, Texas A&M University-Commerce President Dr. Dan Jones said “she brings some new ideas, some new strategies, some enthusiasm, and a level of vision to this program that we feel will propel it to the next level.”

Anderson earned her bachelor’s degree from UCLA in 1993, where she starred on the basketball team and was named one of the 15 greatest players in UCLA women’s basketball history. She was a Naismith Award candidate as a senior, which is given to the top player in the country, and still ranks in the top five in both steals and assists.

She also played for the United States in the 1991 William Jones Cup in Taipei, Taiwan, winning a bronze medal and garnering all-tournament team honors. Anderson went on to play for the Los Angeles Sparks developmental team in 1997 before entering the coaching ranks.

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