Montevallo Names Vanderpool Women's Basketball Coach
MONTEVALLO, Ala. – University of Montevallo Athletic
Director Jim Herlihy announced Thursday the hiring of Mechan
Vanderpool as the thirteenth head women’s basketball coach in
program history.
“We are excited to welcome Mechan to the University of
Montevallo to lead our women’s basketball program,”
said Herlihy. “Her experience and success in Division II
basketball and ability to connect with the community will have an
incredible impact on our student-athletes. She is a proven winner
and a great fit for our athletic program.”
Vanderpool comes to Montevallo after spending the previous four
seasons as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Delta
State University. Prior to her time at DSU she spent two seasons as
assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Mississippi College
and two seasons as graduate assistant coach at Delta State
University.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be the women's
basketball head coach at the University of Montevallo,” said
Vanderpool. “This program is well on its way to becoming a
strong Division II women's basketball program. I am honored to be
able to coach a great group of young women and to work in a great
environment with a group of wonderful and supportive peers. I see
great things for this program and I am confident in my team and my
staff's ability to get where we need to be. I look forward to the
future and my time at Montevallo."
Vanderpool helped guide the Lady Statesmen to a 108-16 record
during her four seasons as assistant coach and recruiting
coordinator. The Lady Statesmen were four-time Gulf South
Conference regular season Champions and three time GSC Tournament
Champions. She helped guide them to back-to-back Final Fours in
2008 and 2009. This past season they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen
with a NCAA South Region Championship game appearance.
On the recruiting path she picked up commitments from the 2007
Mississippi High School Player of the Year, four Mississippi High
School Dandy Dozen selections and six Mississippi All-State
selections. She helped recruit Jennifer Rushing who went on to win
the Peggie Gillom Award which is given to the best collegiate
female basketball player in the state of Mississippi.
She helped recruit a two-time All-American, a two-time Honorable
Mention All-American, a one-time Honorable Mention All-American and
a Daktronics All-American selection. She helped lead four players
to All-Region Team selections and three players who led the NCAA in
assists, three pointers and field goal percentage,
respectively.
At Mississippi College she helped lead them to a 35-16 record
during her two seasons as assistant coach. In 2005 they advanced to
the American Southwest Conference (ASC) Tournament and in 2006 the
team won the ASC Championship. She helped coach four ASC
All-Conference Players including the ASC Newcomer of the Year and
ASC Defensive Player of the Year.
In her previous stint at DSU the Lady Statesmen went 41-17 with one
NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003 and a trip to the GSC Tournament
in 2002.
Vanderpool is a 2002 graduate of Henderson State University where
she competed on the Reddie softball team. She graduated with a
bachelor of science in education and physical education for grades
K-12. In 2004, she received her master of science in health,
physical education and recreation from Delta State University.
Vanderpool is a native of Bryant, Ark. and will begin her duties as
head coach at Montevallo late next week.