NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt women’s basketball head coach Shea Ralph announced Thursday four additions to her staff and promotions for a pair of current staff members ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Coach Ralph announced the hirings of Jena Ready as director of strength and conditioning, JT Orem as video coordinator, Yvonne Hawkins as director of special projects and athletic culture, and Audrey Montgomery as director of player engagement and influence.
Additionally, the fourth-year head coach announced that Chris Brann will now hold the role of executive director of operations and chief of staff after spending three seasons as director of operations for the Commodores. Eric Mundinger has been elevated to assistant coach in addition to his role of assistant director of operations. Mundinger will maintain his responsibilities with operations, while also performing coaching duties on the court with the student-athletes.
Jena Ready comes to Vanderbilt with a heap of strength and conditioning experience, as she has previously worked with the women’s basketball teams at Clemson and Wake Forest. Ready worked with the Tigers for the last three seasons and was with the Demon Deacons from 2018-21.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Jena to Nashville,” expressed Ralph. “She has already hit the ground running with our student-athletes. She is energetic, passionate, innovative, and eager to meet the varying needs our team has in the weight room and on the court. I have the utmost confidence that Jena will play a major role, in many ways, as our program continues to perform among the elite.”
Prior to arriving in Winston-Salem, Ready spent 2017 and 2018 as the associate head strength and conditioning coach at Winthrop University. During her time with the Eagles, she worked with women’s basketball, women’s tennis, women’s lacrosse, men’s golf, and cross-country. A 2015 graduate of Queens University, Ready played lacrosse and led the team in goals over her final three seasons. She earned her master’s degree in Sports and Exercise from Lenoir-Rhyne, where she was also a graduate assistant for two seasons.
JT Orem brings SEC experience to the video coordinator position for the Commodores, as he was a women’s basketball graduate assistant at Kentucky last season. During his time in Lexington, Orem was in charge of student managers, practice players, and equipment and assisted with scouting and film breakdown for both men’s and women’s basketball.
“I am eager to welcome JT to our staff,” Ralph said. “In addition to his experience working in the SEC and with the high-level athletes of our league, he grew up in a basketball family and has tremendous respect for our sport and the women who play our game. Through our conversations, he has already demonstrated that no task will be too big or too small. We are glad to fold his strong work ethic into our staff and to welcome his family to Nashville.”
Orem graduated from Kentucky with a master’s degree in marketing (’24) and a bachelor’s degree in Sports Communication (’23). He was a student manager for the Wildcats during his time as an undergraduate student from 2019-2023.
Yvonne Hawkins comes to West End after her second stint as an assistant coach at UAlbany. Hawkins brings nearly 40 years of collegiate experience, which includes 15 seasons with the Great Danes as an assistant coach from 1987-2002, then again from 2018-2024. She helped UAlbany win the 2022 America East Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
“Yvonne is a pillar of our sport who is respected and loved by everyone who has worked with her or played for her,” Ralph said. “She has an effervescent and fun-loving personality that will make everyone from our student-athletes to our fans feel like she has been part of the family for years. She also brings a wealth of experience from which our program, campus, and local communities will benefit tremendously. After 30 years in coaching, her wisdom will be an invaluable addition to our program’s path forward. I am thrilled to welcome ‘Hawk’ to Vanderbilt.”
Prior to her time at UAlbany, Hawkins was the associate head coach at Boston College from 2012-18. During her time at BC, Hawkins worked with current Vanderbilt associate head coach Tom Garrick and executive director of operations and chief of staff Chris Brann. It was her second stint with the Eagles, as she was previously an assistant coach at BC from 2004-08. She was on staff when Boston College advanced to the Sweet 16 during the 2005-06 season. Hawkins graduated from Ashland in 1983 with a degree in Physical Education with a minor in Adapted Physical Education.
Audrey Montgomery joins the staff as director of player engagement and influence.
“In the ever-changing landscape of college athletics, Vanderbilt is at the forefront of innovation. Adding Audrey to our staff shows Vanderbilt’s commitment to our program’s growth and helping our student-athletes maximize their full potential, on and off the court,” Ralph explained. “Her work will demonstrate that we will continue to be out in front as she helps our basketball program – and Vanderbilt Athletics as a whole – engage with our partners, community, and fans to promote our incredible student-athletes.”
Montgomery comes to Nashville after nearly three years with William Morris Endeavor, the global leader in sports, events, media, and fashion. She served as an assistant in sports content and brand partnerships and more recently was an agent trainee. Before her time at WME, Montgomery was a game day intern at Racing Louisville FC in the National Women’s Soccer League. She graduated from TCU with a bachelor’s degree in physics and she is currently working on her master’s degree in legal studies at Tennessee. During her time at TCU, Montgomery was the president of public relations for both TCU polo teams.
Vanderbilt is coming off its first NCAA Tournament appearance in a decade, as the Commodores 23-10 during the 2023-24 regular season. The 23 wins are the most in a season for Vanderbilt since the 2011-12 campaign. Vandy picked up a 72-68 win over Columbia in the First Four to give the Dores their first March Madness win since the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
Season tickets for the 2024-25 Vanderbilt women’s basketball campaign are now on sale. Fans can click the link here to purchase season tickets.
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