NASHVILLE – As part of a 40-year career in women’s basketball, Mickie DeMoss coached for two seasons with Vanderbilt head coach Stephanie White with the WNBA’s Indiana Fever. The veteran DeMoss, who has coached alongside basketball legends during her career, can still recall being awed by White’s grasp of the game.
“Offensively, Stephanie is one of the best I’ve ever been around, and she can see the floor like no other coach I’ve been around,” DeMoss said. “When I got to the Fever, I had to kick it to another level offensively because of what they were running. I thought, I’m way behind — I’m going to have to watch more film.”
DeMoss’ friendship with White is why the veteran assistant decided to stave off retirement for one more season and join Vanderbilt women’s basketball. Last week, the Commodores announced the addition of DeMoss as Director of Offensive Analytics, a consultant position on White’s staff. For DeMoss, the decision to come to Nashville is a chance to join forces with an SEC team on the rise – and reunite with White.
“This is a fun opportunity to stay involved in the game,” DeMoss said. “It’s different, but it’s a role I’ve truly enjoyed.”
DeMoss, who was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame as an assistant, has spent much of her historic career in the SEC. She enjoyed stints as a head coach at Florida (1979-83) and Kentucky (2003-07), and the Louisiana native won five national championships as an assistant on the late Pat Summitt’s staff at Tennessee. But last season, following her 42nd year on the sidelines and second year at LSU, DeMoss decided the full-time rigors of coaching had taken their toll. She opted to retire and, for once, experience women’s basketball as a fan.
Then, the phone rang. It was White on the other line.
“Stephanie called me shortly after I retired and asked if I’d consider consulting at Vanderbilt. I said, sure,” DeMoss recalled. “It’s basically a six-month appointment. I’d worked with Steph and have a lot of respect for her. She really has a great mind for the game, and she’s a great teacher. I told her, ‘If you think I can help you, I’m in.'”
Adding a veteran presence like DeMoss was a no-brainer, said White.
“Mickie DeMoss is a proven basketball mind who adds immediate championship pedigree to our Vanderbilt staff,” White said. “She has won at every stop of her career through four decades in women’s basketball, including in the WNBA. We are so excited to add Mickie to our staff in Nashville.”
DeMoss said she has been on campus for less than a month and already soaked in a number of Vanderbilt practices. This season the Commodores bring back Freshman All-SEC point guard Chelsie Hall, who averaged 11.9 points per game and 3.5 rebounds per game in 31 starts during her freshman campaign. Junior guard Cierra Walker (.425 3-point percentage in 2017-18) and sophomore forward Autumn Newby (team-leading 6.6 rebounds per game) also return. The Commodores add a pair of Nashville-area freshmen in forward Brinae Alexander and guard Jordyn Cambridge, as well as walk-on Isabella Paldrmic.
The Dores’ roster is also boosted by Mariella Fasoula, who is eligible after sitting out the 2017-18 season following a transfer from Boston College. During her sophomore season with the Eagles, the 6-5 Fasoula led the team with16.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
DeMoss said the pieces are in place for a bounce-back year for Vanderbilt. Thus far, the veteran coach likes the attitude of White’s team.
“I like that the work ethic has been consistent,” DeMoss said. “Their focus has been good, they listen and they respond to coaching. Overall, the group seems really hungry. The season they had last year, I think they’ve used it as a motivation tool, and they seem really hungry and willing to learn. They know where they have to get better, and they are embracing that.”
Zac Ellis is the Writer and Digital Media Editor for Vanderbilt Athletics.