2022-23 Samford WBB Program4

BULLDOGS

2022-23 SEASON

PETE HANNA CENTER

SAMFORD WOMEN’S BASKETBALL OFFICIAL GAME PROGRAM

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Beck A. Taylor President

Dr. Beck A. Taylor began his tenure as the 19th president of Samford University in July 2021. Taylor, who served as dean and professor of economics for Samford’s Brock School of Business from 2005-2010, returned to Samford after serving as the 18th president of Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, from 2010-2021.

After earning his undergraduate degree from Baylor with majors in economics and finance, Taylor was employed as an analyst for Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) in Houston, Texas. He went on to earn his M.S. and Ph.D. in economics from Purdue University. Shortly thereafter, he returned to Baylor as associate dean for research and faculty development for the Hankamer School of Business, and was named the first holder of the W.H. Smith Professorship in Economics. In 2002, he was appointed as a visiting scholar by Harvard University where he spent one year in residence at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

As dean of Samford’s Brock School of Business, Taylor led the rapid transformation of the business school, including its renaming to honor Harry B. Brock, Jr., founder of Compass Bank. Taylor led the Brock School of Business to establish eight new academic programs, as well as the school’s new honors program. The school’s

entrepreneurship program was recognized in 2010 as the nation’s top emerging program by the U.S. Association for Small Business & Entrepreneurship. In an effort to build bridges between students and the Birmingham business community, Taylor established the Samford Business Network, as well as a 45-member advisory board of the region’s top business leaders.

As a scholar, Taylor has published dozens of studies in economics journals such as Review of Economics and Statistics, Journal of Labor Economics, Journal of Human Resources and Journal of Money, Credit, and Banking. Illustrating his diverse research interests and his connections to the social sciences, Taylor has also published groundbreaking research in public health and child developmental psychology. His research has been cited in testimony given before the U.S. Congress, the Federal Trade Commission, and the California State Assembly, and also has been referenced in publications such as The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and The Christian Science Monitor. Taylor is a member of numerous professional and academic organizations, and he has served as a strategic business consultant for dozens of organizations. He and his wife, Julie, have three children.

Martin Newton, Director of Athletics

Samford University

alumnus and director of athletics Martin Newton has transformed the Bulldogs into one of the Southern Conference’s most successful programs since taking the helm of the department on March 9, 2011.

Newton recently signed a five-year contract extension that began on July 1, 2022.

Newton has made an impact nationally in his time at Samford as he will begin a five-year appointment to the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee on Sept. 1. Additionally, he currently serves on the NCAA Division I Council and the Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee. He was also recently appointed to the NCAA Council Coordination Committee (CCC).

On the fields and courts, the Bulldogs have captured 58 Southern Conference regular season and tournament championships during his tenure, including a school record nine titles in 2020-21. The total broke the old record of eight titles, set the previous year, a season shortened by the cancellation of spring sports due to COVID-19.

Additionally, in the Southern Conference All-Sports standings in each of the last two years, Samford won the Germann Cup (top women’s program) and placed third in the Commissioner’s Cup (top men’s program) standings.

Academically, the school’s student-athletes have also posted outstanding results in the classroom, with 1,910 Bulldogs being named to the SoCon Academic Honor Roll. Samford’s student-athletes posted an impressive 97 percent in the most recent NCAA’s Graduation Success Rate (GSR) report, tying for the top score nationally among all Division I institutions. Over the last 11 years, the Athletics Department has seen significant growth in corporate partnerships and annual giving, more than doubling philanthropic gifts and sponsorship revenues.

Facility enhancements have also been a hallmark of Newton’s tenure with the Bulldogs. Samford has opened a new soccer and track stadium as well as a new softball stadium, indoor hitting facility for the baseball and softball programs and an indoor practice

facility for men’s and women’s golf. A new academic center was recently built in Bashinsky Field House. Additionally, state-of-the-art video boards have been added to the Pete Hanna Center (men’s and women’s basketball/volleyball), Seibert Stadium (football), Joe Lee Griffin Field (baseball) and in Shauna Yelton Field at the Cameron Bean Track (soccer/track and field).

The football video board was a part of Phase I of the Seibert Stadium project, which was completed in August 2019 and was 100 percent donor funded. Phase II, which was completed prior to the 2021 season, included a complete renovation of the Bashinsky Press Tower, new premium seating on the west side of the stadium and renovations to the east side Gate House.

In the spring of 2017, a goal of Newton’s was realized when the inaugural class of the Samford Athletics Hall of Fame was inducted.

He has also negotiated an exclusive universitywide footwear and apparel deal with Nike, helped lead the way on a university-wide licensing agreement with the Licensing Resource Group and successfully transformed the antiquated radio network into an industry leader in campus-led broadcast production with all Samford home athletic events airing on ESPN3 or ESPN+.

Newton started the Samford Strong Leadership Academy in 2014. The academy is a program jointly developed between the Athletics Department and the Frances Marlin Mann Center for Ethics and Leadership. Its mission is to bring successful athletes to campus to share their personal stories and the importance of faith and character to success in all areas of life for Samford’s student-athletes.

Following his 1983 graduation from Samford, he worked in sports marketing for Converse for 13 years. Newton then spent 13 years in a similar capacity at Nike.

Prior to his return to Samford, Newton was hired at the University of Kentucky in 2009, where he managed the budget, fund-raising, compliance, scheduling, marketing and academic support for the men’s basketball program.

Newton and his wife, Cindy, have three grown children, Katie, Madison and Charles. They also have two grandsons, Charlie and Sawyer.

Carley Kuhns

Head Coach

Carley Kuhns was officially named Samford’s third head women’s basketball coach on April 10, 2019.

In Kuhns’ third season as the head Bulldog, Samford finished with a 13-17 overall record and made a SoCon semifinal appearance.

Kuhns second season at the helm of Samford Women’s Basketball was just as memorable as her first, as the Bulldogs marched to an 11-2 record in Southern Conference play and their second-straight regular season league championship which led to a trip to the WNIT in Memphis. While the Bulldogs finished the year 14-11 overall, Samford played one of its most difficult schedules in program history in the midst of a global pandemic. On the road to the league title, Andrea Cournoyer was named SoCon Player of the Year and a unanimous All-SoCon first team selection while Natalie Armstrong was named All-SoCon as well.

In her first season as Samford’s head coach in 2019-20, Kuhns engineered a dramatic turnaround in the program. After winning just 10 games the season before, the Bulldogs went 18-14 in Kuhns’ debut season. Despite being picked seventh in the Southern Conference’s preseason polls, the Bulldogs won a share of the SoCon regular-season title, the first in the history of the program. Samford then won the SoCon Tournament for just the third time in program history. With the SoCon Tournament title, the Bulldogs earned the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, but the NCAA Tournament was eventually canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The SoCon media named Kuhns the league’s Co-Coach of the Year.

In that first year several players had breakout seasons under Kuhns’ leadership. Natalie Armstrong was named first team All-SoCon, and she was named the Most Outstanding Player of the

2021 Southern Conference Coach of the Year (Unanimous)

2020 Southern Conference Media Co-Coach of the Year

2017 Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year

2015 Gulf South Conference Hall of Fame Inductee

SoCon Tournament. Sarah Myers was also named first team All-SoCon, and she earned second team All-SoCon Tournament honors. Paige Serup was named first team All-SoCon Tournament as well.

At the time of Kuhns’ hiring, Samford Director of Athletics Martin Newton talked about the qualities of Kuhns that made her the perfect candidate for the job.

“Everyone we talked to about Carley had nothing but glowing recommendations about her character, competitive yet compassionate demeanor and her ability to recruit and coach at the highest level,” Newton said. “We’re excited about adding Carley, her Husband Matt, and their three daughters, Carsten, Kyler and Cohen to our Samford family and look forward to the next chapter of Samford Women’s Basketball.”

Kuhns came to Samford after spending previous three seasons as the head coach at Valdosta State University. In her three seasons at VSU, Kuhns posted a record of 66-29. She led her teams to two NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2018 and one Gulf South Conference Tournament title in 2017.

“I am thrilled and excited for this next chapter in my career and incredibly grateful to President Westmoreland and Mr. Newton for this opportunity to lead Samford Women’s Basketball,” Kuhns said at her introductory press conference. “After being on campus and meeting a lot of people here, I knew instantly this was somewhere I could see myself coaching. Samford is a special place and offers a unique opportunity for student-athletes to excel in every facet of life.

My staff and I will work hard to help our studentathletes become the best people, students and athletes they can be during their time here, and to help prepare them for life after graduating from Samford!

“I would also like to thank Valdosta State University for three amazing years,” Kuhns said. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to coach at my alma mater and VSU will always hold a special place in my heart.”

Her 2018-19 squad finished with a record of 2110 overall and 16-6 in GSC play. The season marked her third-straight 20-plus-win season. The team reached the finals of the GSC Tournament for the second time in her three seasons at the helm of the program.

In Kuhns’ second season in 2017-18, she led the Lady Blazers to a 23-9 record in the regular season, and 15-5 in conference play. VSU made an impressive run in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Sweet 16.

Under Kuhns’ leadership, the 2016-17 season produced VSU’s first 20-plus win campaign since 2011 (22-10) and the first NCAA South Regional Tournament appearance since 2010. Kuhns and the Lady Blazers claimed the program’s first Gulf South Conference Tournament Championship since 1984. At the conclusion of the 2016-17 season, Kuhns was named the GSC Coach of the Year.

Under Kuhns’ tutelage, Madi Mitchell became a two-time WBCA Honorable Mention All-American. During her time at VSU, Kuhns coached two first team All-GSC players, two All-Region players and one member of the GSC’s All-Academic team.

Kuhns, a 2015 Valdosta State Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, took over at VSU following a sixyear stint as an assistant coach at Belmont. While with the Bruins, she helped lead the program to an Ohio Valley Conference Championship in 2015-16 and the program’s second NCAA Tournament appearance in the history of Bruin Basketball. During Kuhns’ tenure at Belmont, she participated heavily in the program’s recruiting efforts, and five of her recruits earned All-OVC recognition. In addition, Kuhns served as an academics and compliance liaison while also adding contributions with scouting, team workouts, camps and the training of perimeter players. Her efforts helped lead the Bruins to a 24-9 record in 2015-16.

Kuhns joined the Bruins’ coaching staff after completing a two-year graduate assistantship at Valdosta State. While with the Lady Blazers, she assisted with various components of the program.

Kuhns was a student-athlete at Valdosta State from 2004 through 2008, earning multiple honors, including becoming the first Lady Blazer since 2001 to be named a Kodak/State Farm WBCA Honorable Mention All-American. She scored 1,133 career points, the 16th-most in program history and was a two-time First Team All-Gulf South Conference selection. Her 262 three-pointers earned her the school record in the category and placed her fifth all-time in Gulf South Conference history.

The illustrious playing career of Kuhns also helped VSU earn a trip to the NCAA Division II Sweet 16 during her senior campaign with a 26-6 overall record. She led the team in scoring, averaging 10.4 points per game, and tallied a .373 shooting percentage from three-point range that season. In her career, Kuhns also accumulated 436 rebounds, 247 assists, 35 blocked shots and 245 steals.

In 2010, Kuhns was named to the prestigious Gulf South Conference All-Decade Second Team for her stellar career on the hardwood at Valdosta State.

Kuhns earned her Bachelor’s in Physical Education from Valdosta State in 2008 and completed her Master’s in Higher Education Leadership in 2010. She and her husband Matt, who also played basketball at Valdosta State, have three daughters, Carsten, Kyler and Cohen.

Matt Wise ASSISTANT COACH

Matt Wise begins first season as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Samford. Wise is involved in all aspects of the women’s basketball team.

Wise spent the 2021-22 season as the director of video and creative content for the women’s basketball program at Alabama. Prior to his time in Tuscaloosa, Wise spent time in the Southern Conference, serving as a men’s basketball assistant coach at ETSU (2020-21). There, he helped guide the Bucs to a winning record, including an 8-7 mark in the Southern Conference, before reaching the semifinal game of the SoCon Tournament. Before that, Wise served as a men’s basketball assistant coach at the University of Wyoming (2019-20), his second stint at the school.

Prior to his second stop at Wyoming, he spent the 2018-19 season as the men’s basketball assistant coach at Little Rock. In his one season there, Wise played an integral role in coaching guard Rayjon Tucker to All-Sun Belt Conference honors after averaging 20.3 points per game, which ranked fourth in the league. Tucker became just the fifth player in program history to eclipse the 600-point threshold with 610 points, while he also ranked fourth in points per game.

In Wise’s first stop at Wyoming, he served as the men’s basketball assistant director of player development (2013-18). During that time, he saw the Cowboys make three postseason appearances, which included a Mountain West Conference Tournament title and a NCAA Tournament berth in 2014-15, following a 25-win campaign. The 25 wins were the most by a Wyoming team since winning 26 in 1988, while it marked the Cowboys’ first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002. Following that season, Larry Nance Jr. – the 2015 MWC Player of the Year – was selected 27th overall in NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. Under Wise’s watch, Wyoming won 20 straight non-conference home games between 2015-17, resulting in the second-longest win streak in program history.

Before his first stop at Wyoming, Wise spent two seasons as a men’s basketball graduate assistant at the University of Florida where the Gators made back-to-back Elite Eight appearances. Wise’s responsibilities with the Gators included conducting advanced statistical research, assisting with on-court workouts, helping with video editing, promoting and marketing summer camps and assisting the director of operations with daily tasks for the program.

Wise was a four-year letterwinner at Transylvania University (2007-11), where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration. There, he guided the Pioneers to an appearance in the 2009 NCAA Division III Tournament after winning the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Championship. In 2013, he graduated with a master’s degree in sport management from Florida. He and his wife Katie have two children, Addy and Jack. Matt is the son of Mark Wise, a college basketball broadcaster, and Mary Wise, head volleyball coach at the University of Florida.

Chandler Merkerson

ASSISTANT COACH

Chandler Merkerson enters her fourth season as an assistant coach for the Samford women’s basketball program. Merkerson is involved in all aspects of the women’s basketball program.

Merkerson was instrumental in the turnaround the program experienced during the 2019-20 season. After winning just 10 games the previous season, the Bulldogs posted a record of 18-14, and won the program’s first Southern Conference regular-season title with a 10-4 league record. The team then won the program’s third SoCon Tournament title.

In her second season on Kuhns staff, Samford Women’s Basketball was just as memorable as her first, as the Bulldogs marched to an 11-2 record in Southern Conference play and their second-straight regular season league championship which led to a trip to the WNIT in Memphis. While the Bulldogs finished the year 14-11 overall, Samford played one of its most difficult schedules in program history in the midst of a global pandemic. On the road to the league title, Andrea Cournoyer was named SoCon Player of the Year and a unanimous All-SoCon first team selection while Natalie Armstrong was named All-SoCon as well. Merkerson came to Samford after serving the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Valdosta State under current Samford Head Coach Carley Kuhns. She helped lead the program to a pair of 20-win seasons and one NCAA Tournament appearance.

Merkerson was heavily involved in player development and scouting during her time at VSU. She also oversaw the team’s academics and marketing.

Prior to her time at Valdosta State, Merkerson spent the 2016-17 season as an assistant coach at Truett McConnell University in Cleveland, Georgia. She began her coaching career as a graduate assistant at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee.

Merkerson played collegiately at the University of North Florida from 2010-2014. She earned her bachelor’s degree in sport management from UNF in August, 2014. She then earned an MBA from Lincoln Memorial in May, 2016.

Sally Higgins ASSISTANT

COACH

Sally Higgins begins her seventh season as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Samford. Higgins is involved in all aspects of the women’s basketball program.

Throughout her first five seasons at Samford, Higgins has been involved in recruiting, on-court coaching, travel planning and working with the strength and conditioning staff on the team’s strength and conditioning program.

Higgins was instrumental in the turnaround the program experienced during the 2019-20 season. After winning just 10 games the previous season, the Bulldogs posted a record of 18-14, and won the program’s first Southern Conference regular-season title with a 10-4 league record. The team then won the program’s third SoCon Tournament title.

In her second season as an assistant for coach Kuhns, Samford Women’s Basketball was just as memorable as her first, as the Bulldogs marched to an 11-2 record in Southern Conference play and their second-straight regular season league championship which led to a trip to the WNIT in Memphis. While the Bulldogs finished the year 14-11 overall, Samford played one of its most difficult schedules in program history in the midst of a global pandemic. On the road to the league title, Andrea Cournoyer was named SoCon Player of the Year and a unanimous All-SoCon first team selection while Natalie Armstrong was named All-SoCon as well.

Higgins came to Samford after serving as the director of basketball operations at Stephen F. Austin from the summer of 2015 until her hiring at Samford. At Stephen F. Austin, she was involved with nearly all facets of the women’s basketball program, including team travel, scheduling, on-campus recruiting visits and equipment management, as well as assisting with the day-to-day functions of the office.

Higgins played basketball at West Texas A&M from 2010-14, appearing in 109 games in her four-year career. She made 35 appearances during her senior season in 2013-14, averaging 19.0 minutes, 6.0 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 50.0 percent from the field.

As a senior, Higgins helped her team compile an impressive 32-3 record and advance to the 2014 NCAA Division II National Championship game. She scored six points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting in the title game but her team narrowly fell to Bentley.

A native of San Angelo, Texas, Higgins graduated from West Texas A&M in May of 2014 with a degree in corporate communication. She also spent eight months in a seminary program called the Kanakuk Institute in Branson, Missouri.

Support Staff

Jonathan Farris Director of Olympic Strength and Conditioning

Ryan LaFoy Athletic Trainer

with.

A concussion is a traumatic brain injury and should be taken seriously. Although fewer than 10% of concussions involve a loss of consciousness, it is important to understand the dangers and not take them lightly. Even a minor fall or collision may be of concern, so be alert to symptoms such as headaches, unsteadiness, confusion or other types of abnormal behavior.

Any athlete with a suspected concussion should be removed from play, evaluated by a doctor, monitored and not left alone.

To make an appointment, please call 205-934-1041.

Childrens AL .org/ Concussion

A concussion is nothing to play

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Our all-suite hotel features separate sleeping and living areas with fully equipped kitchens.

• Complimentary hot buffet breakfast

• Onsite laundry facility

• 24-hr Fitness center

Our generously sized guest rooms offer plenty of room to work, relax and get comfortable.

• The Commons, for breakfast, dinner, and drinks

• 24-hr fitness center

• Indoor pool

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Here in Alabama, basketball isn’t just about competition—it’s about community. We come together— powered by passion—to celebrate the triumphs, share the heartbreaking losses, and see in each other the potential for a better tomorrow. That’s Power for a Better Alabama. We proudly support Samford Basketball.

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