Assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Joy Cheek, who was recently named one of the WBCA’s Thirty under 30, enters her third season on head coach Stephanie White’s staff in 2018-19. Cheek will serve as Vanderbilt’s recruiting coordinator.
In her second season at Vanderbilt, Cheek helped develop freshman forward Autumn Newby. The freshman from Georgia led Vanderbilt on the glass with 6.6 rebounds per game. Newby also posted six games with double figure rebounds including a career-best 14 rebounds in a win over Iowa State.
In her first season on the Vanderbilt sidelines, Cheek helped develop the Commodore post players. Under Cheek’s tutelage, freshman Kayla Overbeck earned SEC All-Freshman team honors while averaging 9.4 ppg and 7.2 rpg – both ranking second-best on the team.
Cheek, a former standout at Duke and WNBA player, comes to Vanderbilt from Ohio State, where she has spent three seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Prior to that, she spent two seasons as an assistant and co-recruiting coordinator at her alma mater.
“I am so excited to welcome Joy to the Vanderbilt Basketball Family,” said White, upon Cheek’s hiring. “Joy exemplifies the core values of our program with her work ethic, championship mentality and communication style.”
In her role as recruiting coordinator at Ohio State, she helped the Buckeyes land top-25 classes in each of the past two seasons, including a top-5 class in 2015-16.
“There is no question that Joy is one of best in the country at evaluating talent on the court and in the classroom,” said White. “Her playing and coaching experience will be of great benefit to our team in terms of player development, game planning and scouting. Joy is a rising star in our profession and we are blessed to have her.”
Cheek comes to Vanderbilt with an attention-getting resume that extends beyond basketball.
The daughter of NFL official Boris Cheek, she served as a White House intern after graduating from Duke in the summer of 2009, working in the Office of the Vice President and Economic Policy. Cheek was also a member of the ACC Honor Roll during her career at Duke.
On the court, Cheek produced an outstanding career. She was a four-year letterwinner for the Blue Devils, and scored more than 1,000 career points.
Cheek was drafted by the WNBA’s Indiana Fever with the 35th overall selection in the 2010 draft. She also played professionally in Leszno, Poland and had a brief stint with the WNBA’s Washington Mystics.
Cheek File
Assistant/Recruiting Coordinator, Vanderbilt, (2016-Present)
Assistant, Ohio State (2013-2016)
Assistant, Duke (2011-13)
Cheek Quick Hits
Graduated from Duke in 2010 with a degree in public policy.
Played in 137 contests in her four years at Duke, and was a four-year letterwinner from 2007-10.
Honors include being named to the Memphis Regional All-Tournament team, All-ACC Tournament First Team, All-ACC Third Team and was a finalist for the Lowe’s Senior Class Award.
Was the 35th overall selection in the 2010 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever.
Played professionally in the WNBA and overseas before being hired as an assistant coach at Duke in 2011.
Following graduation from Duke, Cheek had the honor of introducing Vice President Joe Biden prior to making an announcement about Title IX on April 20, 2010.
Daughter of Boris and Michele Cheek, and has one brother, Justin, and one sister, Jessica.
Father is an NFL official (field judge) who officiated Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Ariz., when the New York Giants upset the New England Patriots.
Native of Charlotte, N.C.