The Seattle Storm have announced that former Storm player Shaquala Williams has been named assistant coach.

“I am very excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the Seattle Storm organization,” said Williams. “Coach Agler, Force 10 Hoops and Karen Bryant have built one of the most successful franchises in WNBA history and I look forward to bringing a great work ethic and focus to maintain the Storm’s championship culture.”

A 2004 and 2005 Seattle Storm training camp attendee, Williams has professional experience playing for the Los Angeles Sparks in 2003, in Meblotab, Poland in 2005 and in Burhaniye, Turkey in 2006.

“We are delighted to add Shaquala to our staff. She is very versed in how we prepare through video for competition and has experience in player development,” said Storm head coach and general manager Brian Agler. “We are excited about the skills that she brings to the Storm.”

Williams comes to the Storm following two years as an assistant coach at Seattle University. The Redhawks were the 2013 WAC regular season champions and advanced to the 2013 WNIT. Her duties focused on perimeter skill development, opponent scouting, recruiting and coordinating the youth summer camps.

Prior to coming to Seattle University, Williams served as an assistant coach at Sacramento State University for the 2011-12 season. The Hornets advanced to the 2012 Big Sky Tournament semifinals.

Following her retirement as an athlete, Williams joined the Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball Program as a video coordinator for the 2006-07 season. That year, the Commodores were the SEC Champions and advanced to the 2007 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament second round.

A 2002 graduate of the University of Oregon, Williams led the Ducks to the 1999 and 2000 Pac-10 Conference Championships. She was named the 1999 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, 2000 Pac-10 Player of the Year and Kodak All-American and 2002 First-Team All-Pac-10.

Video

Last week, Lauren Hill of Mount St. Joseph University courageously took the floor for her first college game, refusing to let an inoperable brain tumor keep her from achieving her dream – and WNBA stars Elena Delle Donne and Tamika Catchings were on hand to lend their support.