UNION, N.J. (8/18/25) - Vice President of Athletics & Recreation Kelly Williams has named Tasha Pointer as the next head coach of the women's basketball program. Pointer becomes the sixth head coach in program history.
The Chicago native is no stranger to New Jersey, having coached and played at Rutgers University. Pointer had two stints coaching with the Scarlet Knights under current Head Coach Coqueese Washington and Hall of Fame Coach C. Vivian Stringer.
"I am deeply honored to be named the next head coach at Kean University," stated Pointer. "My vision is to honor those who came before us, develop leaders on and off the court, and chase greatness together."
Pointer was responsible for 18 All-Conference selections, including the 2015 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (Syessence Davis) and 2008 Big East Defensive Player of the Year (Essence Carson).
The Rutgers Hall of Famer had three recruiting classes rank in the top three and secured a commitment from a top 10 talent in 2013.
During her time on the sidelines, Rutgers made six NCAA Tournament appearances and one WNIT appearance. The Scarlet Knights reached the elite eight in 2007-08 and won the WNIT on 2013-14.
Between her stints with Rutgers, Pointer had two assistant coaching stops (St. John's & Northwestern) and a head-coaching position (Illinois-Chicago).
At UIC, Pointer had one Horizon Leage Second Team selection, one All-Freshman team selection, a Top five conference scorer and a conference leader in blocks.
The Flames had an academic turnaround under Pointer, boasting a 3.5 team GPA with five student-athletes earning a 4.0.
At SJU, Pointer again made the NCAA Tournament and won a Big East Title with a 23-10 team in 2016.
At Northwestern, Pointer coached a Big Ten All-Freshman and a Big Ten All-Honorable Mention selection. She recruited future WNBA first round pick Veronica Burton to Evanston.
Prior to her first stint at Rutgers, Pointer had stops at Xavier and Columbia.
At Xavier, the Musketeers won the A10 championship as Pointer coached both the conference Rookie and Sixth Woman of the Year award winners.
At Columbia, Pointer coached two Ivy-League selections.
On the court, Pointer was a four-year player and 1,000-point scorer for the Scarlet Knights. She finished with over 1,400 career points and set the Rutgers all-time assists and steals records at the end of her career. Pointer guided the 2000 Rutgers squad to the first-ever final four appearance as a junior captain. At the conclusion of her collegiate career, she was the only player in Big East conference history to record 1,000 points, 700 assists, 500 rebounds, and 250 steals. The Big East Rookie of the Year in 1998 earned numerous honors over her 4-year career, including two All-American nods before her draft selection in the fourth round of the 2001 WNBA draft by the Portland Fire.
Pointer later played for the Chicago Blaze of the NBWL.
Pointer earned her bachelor's degree in journalism and mass media in 2001 and master's degree in education administration and supervision in 2003, both from Rutgers.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT TASHA POINTER …
Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. – Kean University President: "Tasha Pointer's legacy as a student-athlete and coach reflects the highest levels of excellence, resilience and leadership. We are proud to welcome her to Kean, where her experience will inspire our student-athletes to thrive on the court, in the classroom and in life. She embodies the values of our University and will elevate Kean Women's Basketball to new heights."
D. Kelly Williams – Kean University Vice President of Athletics and Recreation: "Tasha Pointer is a proven winner and fierce competitor, but more importantly, she is deeply committed to developing young women both on and off the court. She is a great communicator and a genuine leader whose values align perfectly with the vision of our department and the broader mission of Kean University. I'm incredibly excited to have Tasha, one of the great point guards to ever play the game, who was coached by iconic Hall of Famer, C. Vivian Stringer represent Kean Women's Basketball-not just across the state, but on the national stage."
C. Vivian Stringer – Former Rutgers University Head Women's Basketball Coach: "Words cannot express enough my sincere, sheer joy and happiness for Tasha. She was my lead recruiter, the person who knows the x's and o's and her leadership created the kind of success we had at Rutgers. They have a great coach in Tasha Pointer and she will be highly successful."