Head coach
bined 3.2 GPA in the fall semester, and the followed up with a 3.3 GPA in the spring semester en route to 17 AD Honor Roll selections and five OVC Commissioner Honor Roll selections. The Golden Eagles have also been visible in the community, as they have participated in a number of events including Habitat for Humanity and the Fall Fun Fest. Messer’s desire for success can be traced back to her decorated playing career at Arkansas where she played four seasons for the Razorbacks. Messer led the team to a 22-11 record and an NCAA Final Four appearance in 1998 where she was named the Most Valuable Player for the West Regional. Messer and the Razorbacks followed up with a WNIT Championship in 1999. Over the course of her four seasons at Arkansas, Messer tallied 1,379 points to rank seventh on the all-time scorers list. Messer’s prowess was not limited to scoring however, as she ranked 10th in career rebounding with 603, sixth in free throws made with 329 and fourth in career 3-pointers with 112. Messer’s players are seeing the same success that she enjoyed during her playing days on the court. Not only did the Golden Eagles win the 16th OVC Championship in the program’s history, but they also made their fourth appearance in the WNIT, and first since 2006. Last season’s success was not limited to team accomplishments as several of Messer’s players were awarded for their individual performances. Junior guard Tacarra Hayes was named allOVC first-team for the second straight season, and was named the OVC co-Defensive Player of the Year. She led the team in a number of categories including points with 525 (16.9 ppg), and now ranks 18th on the all-time scorers list at Tech with 1,208 points. Hayes
was also named the OVC Player of the Week twice. Junior center Brittany Darling made an immediate impact in the paint for the Golden Eagles as she racked up 173 rebounds and tallied 236 points. She notched five double-doubles on the season and was named the OVC Newcomer of the Week on seven occasions. Freshman forward Molly Heady appeared in every game for the Golden Eagles last season, and she made the most of it, as she finished second on the team in scoring with 274 points, and led the OVC in free throw percentage with a mark of 85.5. She was named to the OVC all-Newcomer Team for her efforts. Messer and her squad have accomplished so much in two years, but there is still one more goal they are striving for, an opportunity to play in the 2012 NCAA Tournament.
The Messer File * Eleven years of Division I coaching experience * Three consecutive 20-win seasons at Georgia Tech * Three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances * Five consecutive top-25 recruiting classes * Four-year letterwinner at the University of Arkansas * 1998 NCAA West Regional MVP * 2010-11 OVC Coach of the Year * 2010-11 OVC Champions * Eleven players named to the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll
Coaching Experience Arkansas State (2000-02) — Assistant Coach Memphis (2002-04) — Assistant Coach Georgia Tech (2004-08) — Assistant Coach Recruiting Coordiantor Georgia Tech (2008-09) — Associate Head Coach Tennessee Tech (2009-present) — Head Coach
837 WINS F 16 OVC CHA MPIONSHIPS F 10 NCAA TOURNA MENT APPEARANCES
9