The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Norton Adds Former Blazer Zakyia Weathersby to UAB Women’s Basketball Staff
8/3/2026 11:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM – UAB women's basketball head coach Randy Norton has announced the addition of former Blazer standout Zakyia Weathersby to his coaching staff as an assistant coach.
"We're thrilled to welcome Zakyia back home to UAB," Norton said. "She represents everything we want our program to stand for, hard work, toughness, loyalty, and a relentless commitment to getting better every day. As a player, she left an incredible legacy, and now she'll have the opportunity to help develop the next generation of Blazers. Our players will benefit tremendously from her experience, her passion for teaching, and the genuine relationships she builds. I couldn't be more excited to have her join our staff. One of the most dominant post players in program history, Weathersby returns to Birmingham after a successful professional career overseas and a season as a graduate assistant at Southern Miss."
Weathersby starred for the Blazers from 2019-22 and wrote her name in the record book after beginning her collegiate career at Jones College.
At Jones College, she earned Second Team All-MACJC South Division honors after averaging 10.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. She helped lead the Bobcats to State, Regional and District Championships.
Following her transfer to UAB, Weathersby made an immediate impact during the 2019-20 season. She scored in double figures eight times, including the team's lone 30-point performance of the season. She led the Blazers in rebounding four times, ranked first on the team in field goal percentage at 66.1 percent and tied for the team lead with 31 blocks while averaging 7.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.
In 2020-21 Weathersby earned Conference USA All-Second Team honors after starting all 23 games and averaging a double-double with 13.7 points and 12.3 rebounds per game. She recorded a league-best 14 double-doubles, led Conference USA in rebounds, field goal percentage and defensive rebounds, while ranking second in offensive rebounds. She also posted four 20-rebound performances, recorded a conference-high 16 games with at least 10 rebounds. She earned Conference USA Player of the Week honors which was the first of her career. Off the court, she was named to the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll.
She capped her collegiate career with one of the finest individual seasons in program history in 2021-22. Weathersby started all 31 games and established herself as one of the top post players in Conference USA. She led the Blazers in scoring (14.7 points per game), rebounding (11.1 rebounds per game), field goal percentage (.568) and blocks (59), earning All-Conference USA First Team and Conference USA All-Defensive Team honors. She was also named Conference USA Player of the Week twice.
Following graduation, Weathersby spent four seasons playing professionally overseas in Turkey and Mexico. She opened her professional career with Ferhatoglu Edremit in Turkey, averaging 26.6 points, 14.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 65.5 percent from the field during her first season. She followed that by averaging 18.2 points and 12.7 rebounds per game in her second season with the club before spending the summer of 2024 with Santas Potosi in Mexico. Most recently, she starred for Edirne in Turkey during the 2024-25 season, averaging 23.6 points and 15.5 rebounds per game while shooting 59.1 percent from the floor.
Weathersby began her coaching career during the 2025-26 season as a graduate assistant at Southern Miss. Her responsibilities included coordinating with opposing directors of basketball operations regarding practice and game logistics, organizing and coaching practice players, creating scouting reports, editing and uploading practice and game film, collecting practice statistics and assisting with post player development. She also conducted individual film sessions with student-athletes, coordinated travel logistics and assisted with official visits and recruiting operations.
Now returning to the program where she made her mark as a player, Weathersby brings championship experience, elite post play and a passion for developing the next generation of Blazers.
BLAZER MADE
Blazer student-athletes are provided every resource possible to be champions in competition and in life. The Blazer Made initiative was created to provide comprehensive programming in Personal Development, Leadership and Career Preparedness. Your support to Blazer Made is an investment in the holistic education and a commitment to impact the future of each Blazer athlete who wears the Green & Gold. Click here or connect with Blazer Boosters on how you can continue to fuel success.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB women's basketball team, be sure to follow @UAB_WBBALL on Twitter and Instagram.
"We're thrilled to welcome Zakyia back home to UAB," Norton said. "She represents everything we want our program to stand for, hard work, toughness, loyalty, and a relentless commitment to getting better every day. As a player, she left an incredible legacy, and now she'll have the opportunity to help develop the next generation of Blazers. Our players will benefit tremendously from her experience, her passion for teaching, and the genuine relationships she builds. I couldn't be more excited to have her join our staff. One of the most dominant post players in program history, Weathersby returns to Birmingham after a successful professional career overseas and a season as a graduate assistant at Southern Miss."
Weathersby starred for the Blazers from 2019-22 and wrote her name in the record book after beginning her collegiate career at Jones College.
At Jones College, she earned Second Team All-MACJC South Division honors after averaging 10.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. She helped lead the Bobcats to State, Regional and District Championships.
Following her transfer to UAB, Weathersby made an immediate impact during the 2019-20 season. She scored in double figures eight times, including the team's lone 30-point performance of the season. She led the Blazers in rebounding four times, ranked first on the team in field goal percentage at 66.1 percent and tied for the team lead with 31 blocks while averaging 7.5 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.
In 2020-21 Weathersby earned Conference USA All-Second Team honors after starting all 23 games and averaging a double-double with 13.7 points and 12.3 rebounds per game. She recorded a league-best 14 double-doubles, led Conference USA in rebounds, field goal percentage and defensive rebounds, while ranking second in offensive rebounds. She also posted four 20-rebound performances, recorded a conference-high 16 games with at least 10 rebounds. She earned Conference USA Player of the Week honors which was the first of her career. Off the court, she was named to the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll.
She capped her collegiate career with one of the finest individual seasons in program history in 2021-22. Weathersby started all 31 games and established herself as one of the top post players in Conference USA. She led the Blazers in scoring (14.7 points per game), rebounding (11.1 rebounds per game), field goal percentage (.568) and blocks (59), earning All-Conference USA First Team and Conference USA All-Defensive Team honors. She was also named Conference USA Player of the Week twice.
Following graduation, Weathersby spent four seasons playing professionally overseas in Turkey and Mexico. She opened her professional career with Ferhatoglu Edremit in Turkey, averaging 26.6 points, 14.9 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 65.5 percent from the field during her first season. She followed that by averaging 18.2 points and 12.7 rebounds per game in her second season with the club before spending the summer of 2024 with Santas Potosi in Mexico. Most recently, she starred for Edirne in Turkey during the 2024-25 season, averaging 23.6 points and 15.5 rebounds per game while shooting 59.1 percent from the floor.
Weathersby began her coaching career during the 2025-26 season as a graduate assistant at Southern Miss. Her responsibilities included coordinating with opposing directors of basketball operations regarding practice and game logistics, organizing and coaching practice players, creating scouting reports, editing and uploading practice and game film, collecting practice statistics and assisting with post player development. She also conducted individual film sessions with student-athletes, coordinated travel logistics and assisted with official visits and recruiting operations.
Now returning to the program where she made her mark as a player, Weathersby brings championship experience, elite post play and a passion for developing the next generation of Blazers.
BLAZER MADE
Blazer student-athletes are provided every resource possible to be champions in competition and in life. The Blazer Made initiative was created to provide comprehensive programming in Personal Development, Leadership and Career Preparedness. Your support to Blazer Made is an investment in the holistic education and a commitment to impact the future of each Blazer athlete who wears the Green & Gold. Click here or connect with Blazer Boosters on how you can continue to fuel success.
FOLLOW THE BLAZERS
For more information on the UAB women's basketball team, be sure to follow @UAB_WBBALL on Twitter and Instagram.
Tuesday, July 14
Wednesday, July 08
Thursday, June 11
Wednesday, June 10
