JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Former Carson-Newman standout Ashley Tipton has been named assistant women's basketball coach, head coach Mike Mincey announced Tuesday.
Tipton joins Mincey's first-year staff. He was named the fourth head coach in the program's history in April, and coached Tipton in her final season at C-N in 2008-09.
"When I first thought about who I would hire to be my assistant coach, Ashley Tipton topped my list," Mincey said. "The timing of me being named the head coach and her finishing up her time in Texas couldn't have been better. Ashley is someone I trust and someone who shares my vision for this program. She has earned this opportunity, and I have confidence she is going to do great things at C-N."
Tipton was a four-year starter for the Lady Eagles from 2005-2009 and a part of two NCAA Tournament teams during her career at Mossy Creek. She returns to C-N after spending two seasons as a graduate assistant an Angelo State University (Tex.).
"I am returning home to my alma mater, where I spent four of the greatest years of my life," Tipton said. "I am looking forward to making the collegiate experience of our student-athletes as wonderful as my experience was during those four years, if not even better."
The Knoxville, Tenn. native was one of the premier three-point shooters in South Atlantic Conference history. She twice finished in the nation's top five in three-point percentage, placing second nationally as a junior shooting 48 percent from beyond the arc. She finished fourth as a senior.
Tipton finished her career with 1,084 points and is in the top 15 in career scoring at C-N. She is fourth in SAC history with 222 three-point field goals made and first in three-point field goal percentage (.452).
Carson-Newman was 14-16 last season and finished 9-9 in South Atlantic Conference play.
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C-N head coach Mike Mincey on Ashley Tipton:
"When I first thought about who I would hire to be my assistant coach, Ashley Tipton topped my list. The timing of me being named the head coach and her finishing up her time in Texas couldn't have been better. She was the person I targeted from the beginning, and I was pleased to know she wanted to come back to C-N. Ashley is someone I trust and someone who shares my vision for this program. Ashley has earned this opportunity, and I have confidence that she is going to do great things at C-N…Day-to-day, Ashley will be responsible for our overall academic achievement and will play a vital role in every aspect of our program, especially recruiting...I believe hiring Ashley will not only benefit me, but it will also benefit our players when they see her passion for the game and her love for C-N. She will be a great role model for our student- athletes and will be a tremendous help to them both on and off the court."
C-N assistant coach Ashley Tipton:
"I am excited and honored to be returning to Carson-Newman College as the assistant coach for the Lady Eagle basketball program. I could not ask for anything more. I would like to thank our Athletic Director, Mr. David Barger, our Associate Athletic Director, Coach Dale Clayton, and Head Women's Basketball Coach, Mike Mincey, for making this dream a reality for me. Thanks to them, I am returning home to my alma mater, where I spent four of the greatest years of my life. Now, I am looking forward to making the collegiate experience of our student-athletes as wonderful as my experience was during those four years, if not even better…This should be easy to accomplish working alongside someone like Coach Mincey. He has the well-being of his players in mind, and he works to ensure that the collegiate experiences of his players are great. I can say this because I had the honor of playing for him as a player here at C-N. I was blessed to have him as a coach then, and I am blessed to be assisting him in his pursuit to continue the winning ways of the Lady Eagle basketball program now. I am confident that Coach Mincey and I will make a solid team. Our recruiting philosophies, coaching philosophies, and professional values complement one another. I am looking forward to seeing our vision come to fruition."
