The Coastal Carolina University women’s basketball program and head coach Alan LeForce have announced the hiring of Shameka Montgomery as an assistant coach, effective September 1. Montgomery replaces Dee Pennix, who left to become an assistant at Jacksonville University.

Montgomery comes to Coastal after playing overseas for the past two seasons. She was playing in Sweden in the 2004-05 season and was in Portugal for the 2003-04 campaign.

Montgomery went to college at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, where she scored 1,139 points and 724 rebounds in her four-year career. She was a Second Team All-Colonial Athletic Association member in 2002-03 and made the All-CAA Tournament team in 2002. She graduated from UNC Wilmington with a Bachelor of Science in physical education with an exercise science concentration in 2003.

No stranger to the area, Montgomery went to North Myrtle Beach High School in Little River, S.C., where she was the conference Player of the Year in 1999 and was a nominee for the Miss South Carolina Basketball.

"Shameka played four years at UNC Wilmington and two years overseas," LeForce said. "She has a working knowledge of post players. She has a desire to be an outstanding coach. Shameka is a hard worker, has a good attitude and gets along with our players. We think she will be very good."

Coastal opens the 2005-06 season Tuesday, Nov. 22, at Campbell. Game time is at 7 p.m.

TRANSACTIONS

Coastal Carolina - Named Shameka Montgomery assistant women’s basketball coach.