Rutgers Women's Basketball adds LaDazhia Williams to staff
Rutgers Women’s Basketball has added another assistant coach to its new staff under head coach Gary Redus II.
Former LSU Forward LaDazhia Williams will join the staff as an assistant coach, the program announced in a release. Williams was an every-game starter under Redus II and Kim Mulkey on the Tigers’ 2023 national championship team.
“I was fortunate enough to coach LaDazhia , and now I am so excited to have the opportunity to work with her,” said Redus in the release. “Her leadership on the 2023 championship team at LSU was invaluable, and that’s something she’ll be able to bring to this program right away. She has a calming presence but is also a fierce competitor. I think very highly of her and believe she has the potential for a long, successful career in this profession. She can still get out on the court and play, which will be a huge asset in developing our post players. I’m excited for her to begin her coaching journey with us.”
In the same release, the Scarlet Knights also officially announced the staff hirings of Daphne Mitchell, Manisha Redus, Preston Beverly, and Lauren Hansen as assistant coaches, and Matthew Brune as the General Manager. Alejandro Ramirez will also remain as the Director of Basketball Operations, a role he held full-time last year, and on an interim basis in the 2024-25 season.
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Williams’ background
A native of Bradenton, Florida, Williams was a highly-ranked recruit in the 2017 class, as the No. 48 overall prospect and the 12th-ranked forward on ESPN. She played her high school basketball at Lakewood Ranch in the Sunshine State.
She spent her first two seasons at South Carolina under Dawn Staley and former Rutgers assistant Jolette Law. The Gamecocks made the Elite Eight and Sweet 16 in both years, but Williams opted to transfer after averaging 1.3 points per game in those two seasons.
The 6-foot-4 forward landed at Missouri, and played two seasons with the Tigers after sitting out the 2019-20 season due to transfer rules. Williams took a jump in production, averaging 10.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game over two years under head coach Robin Pingeton, who also later worked with Beverly at Missouri. The Tigers made the WNIT in Williams’ second season.
She then opted to transfer once again for her final season and landed at LSU. Williams started every game for the national champions, averaging 9.9 points and a career-high six rebounds per game. Her production also took a step up in the NCAA Tournament, as she averaged 13.8 points and 5.5 rebounds over the six games.
Following her playing career, Williams was selected by the Indiana Fever as the 17th overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft. She was later waived in the preseason.
Williams has played internationally since then, in Israel, France, Mexico, Greece, Romania, and Lebanon. Now, she enters the coaching world in New Jersey.
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