The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Women's Basketball Hires Two New Assistants
4/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
April 17, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- UAB's newly-hired head women's basketball coach Audra Smith has announced the hiring of Kathy Allen and Daryl Oliver as assistant coaches on her staff.
Allen comes to the Blazers after spending two years on the Tennessee women's basketball staff. She will be assisting with the development of the guards and post players. As a graduate assistant, Allen's major focus was assisting with recruiting. She joined the Lady Vols' staff after graduating from the University of Virginia in May of 2002, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Commerce and a minor in Economics from the prestigious McIntire School of Commerce.
The Boyerstown, Pa., native played basketball at Virginia, while coach Smith was an assistant. In 2002, she received the team's Leadership Award as the Cavaliers finished third in the Atlantic Coast Conference and advanced to its 19th-straight NCAA Tournament. She was also a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society.
"Kathy comes into this basketball program with experience from two of the top women's programs in the country," said Smith. "She's a true winner and understands the definition of hardwork. Kathy brings expertise in the areas of recruiting and team administration."
Oliver joins the UAB staff after serving as an assistant coach at Virginia for two seasons. While with the Cavaliers, Oliver was involved in recruiting and focused primarily on guard play. He will continue in that capacity at UAB. Prior to coaching at UVa, Oliver spent the 2002 season as an assistant coach at Western Kentucky, helping the Hilltopper women to a berth in the National Women's Invitation Tournament.
A native of Faison, N.C., Oliver was a four-year letterwinner at Richmond. He was team captain for two seasons and was awarded the team's Defensive Player of the Year award in 1996 and 1997. As a senior, he led the Spiders to the Colonial Athletic Conference Tournament championship and was named tournament MVP.
"Daryl brings a wealth of knowledge to the UAB program," Smith said. "He's an exceptional recruiter and an outstanding teacher of the game. Darly will be instrumental in scouting and the development of the guards."
