ST. MARY'S CITY, Md. – St. Mary's College of Maryland Director of Athletics and Recreation Crystal Gibson announced Monday morning (Sept. 23) the hiring of LaTanya Collins as the next head women's basketball coach. Collins begins her duties today, becoming the program's 17th head coach.
 
Collins stated, "I would like to say thank you to Ms. Gibson and everyone who was a part of the process at St. Mary's College of Maryland that decided I would be the next leader of the women's basketball program. My heart is full of excitement and gratitude for this opportunity. The people, the school, and the city are all so special. I am looking forward to cultivating a lot of celebratory moments at SMCM. I am truly proud to be a Seahawk!"
 
Collins brings quality experience as both a head and assistant coach at the NCAA Division I, II, and III levels as well as the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I level, enjoying success at all stops. She remains a student of the game, always looking to better herself as a coach to bring out the best in her teams.
 
She attended the NCAA Women Coaches Academy in 2007 and NCAA Women Coaches Academy 2.0 in 2024. Twice, Collins has been at the Head Coaches Training Center (2017, 2023) and was a participant at the NCAA Basketball Coaches Academy in 2023.
 
Collins arrives in St. Mary's City following a yearlong stint (2023-24) as the associate head coach at NCAA Division I Iona University in New Rochelle, N.Y. While at Iona, she was responsible for post development and post players accounted for 52-percent of the Gaels' offensive production.
 
Before Iona, Collins spent one season (2022-23) as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at NCAA Division I Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, N.J. She helped coached a pair of All-Northeast Conference selections and lead the Knights to a NEC regular-season championship title as well as the first 20-win season in program history.
 
She spent two years (2020-22) as an assistant coach and interim head coach at NCAA Division I University of Detroit Mercy in Detroit. Collins created Mindful Mondays with the team to discuss positive mindset (training) and culture creation and growth. The Titans ranked second in steals and fourth in offensive rebounding in the Horizon League during her tenure.
 
Collins inherits a Seahawk women's basketball program which has produced the last two United East Conference Rookie of the Years and amassed 43 wins over the past three seasons. St. Mary's College also made three straight semifinal appearances in the United East Championship Tournament.

She graduated from Virginia State University in 2000 with a B.S. in biology (pre-med) before obtaining her M.S. in exercise science and health promotions from California University of Pennsylvania in December 2015.
 
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