University of Memphis Athletics
Tigers add trio of proven winners to coaching staff
May 06, 2021 | Women's Basketball
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Memphis Tigers head coach Katrina Merriweather has filled out her coaching staff with the hirings of Tennille Adams, Ashley Barlow and Abby Jump. Adams will be associate head coach of the Tigers.
All three were on the bench with Merriweather at Wright State for at least the last three seasons, and Barlow was alongside Merriweather for all five of her seasons leading the Raiders. Merriweather and Barlow went 113-47 in five seasons at Wright State with four postseason appearances, and the quartet was 65-27 with two NCAA Tournament trips and two Horizon League championships in the last three seasons.
Tennille Adams
Adams joined the Wright State staff as associate head coach before the 2018-19 season after three years as an assistant coach at Ball State. Prior to Ball State, Adams spent two seasons as the head coach at Howard University, and before becoming the head coach at Howard she spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Northwestern after a stint at American University.
At Wright State, Adams made an impact in many areas, but particularly in the Raiders' post play. Adams has been a part of five consecutive postseason trips at Ball State and Wright State, with the sixth season having no postseason play due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adams was a standout player at the University of Arkansas, where she was a member of the 1998 Final Four team and the 1999 WNIT championship team. One of her most memorable moments was an historic rebound put-back that advanced the Razorbacks to the Final Four. A native of the talent hotbed of East Chicago, Ind., where she attended Central High School, Adams was ranked as one of the top-five post players in the country by BlueStar and was a member of the 1995 Indiana All-Star team.
"Tennille is one of the best do-it-alls in our business," Merriweather said. "During her career, there isn't one responsibility she hasn't had. She is intelligent, charismatic and dedicated. I can rely on her to do what it takes for us to be successful, and I trust her with any and every aspect of our program. She does an excellent job of player development, particularly with post players.
"When Tennille was offered the opportunity to be the associate head coach at Memphis, she didn't hesitate. We have been friends in this business for over 18 years, and I am thrilled to embark on this new journey with her."
Ashley Barlow
Barlow was an assistant coach at Wright State since the 2016-17 season, and in 2018-19 she took on added duties as the program's recruiting coordinator. She was on the bench for Wright State's 113 wins in five seasons, two Horizon League championships and four postseason trips.
Barlow came to Wright State after three years as an assistant coach at Evansville, where her responsibilities included working with the scoring guards, assisting with recruiting, scouting of opponents and other day-to-day operations. Barlow came to Evansville after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at IUPUI. In her two seasons at IUPUI, Barlow worked with the guards and was in charge of travel and film exchange, while assisting with recruiting, scouting and game planning.
Prior to her coaching career, Barlow completed an historic career at Notre Dame in 2010, where she emerged as one of the most versatile players in Fighting Irish history. She is the only player in Notre Dame basketball history, male or female, to eclipse 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 250 assists and 250 steals in a career. A native of Indianapolis, Barlow played professionally in Israel for Elitzur Rishon Le-Zion during the 2010-11 season, where she averaged 20.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.4 steals per game. Prior to starring at Notre Dame, Barlow played at Pike (Ind.) High School where she was a WBCA High School All-American and a two-time all-state selection.
"Ashley is a tremendous role model for our young women," Merriweather said. "She is bright, hard-working and loyal. In the five years we've spent together, she has grown in every aspect of coaching. She has contributed to the success I've had as a head coach in more ways than I can explain. She has a rich family basketball pedigree and a love for the game. Ashley will continue to work with our point guards and shooting guards.
"She knows our playbook like the back of her hand and will serve as our offensive coordinator this season. I have known Ashley since she was a part of The Family, Inc. over 25 years ago, and I am fortunate to have her as a part of the Tiger family."
Abby Jump
Jump joined the Wright State coaching staff prior to the 2018-19 season, which marked a return to her alma mater. In her playing and coaching careers at Wright State, the Raiders went 149-76, and she has developed into one of the best up-and-coming assistant coaches in college basketball.
Before returning to Wright State, Jump helped coach Morehead State to a 42-21 record and the program's first postseason appearance since 2010. She coached and mentored four first- and second-team all-conference players as well as helped sign the highest nationally-ranked recruiting class in school history.
Jump came to Morehead State after spending the 2015-16 season as the director of women's basketball operations at Bucknell University, where she was responsible for creating weekly schedules, sending out recruiting mailers, arranging team travel and coordinating the team's community service efforts. She graduated from Wright State in 2014 after playing high school basketball at Ryle (Ky.), where she was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019. At the time of graduation, she ranked fifth all-time in Kentucky basketball history with 81 3-pointers made.
"As anticipated when I coached her, Abby has grown into a star," explained Merriweather. "Despite other opportunities she decided to join the Tiger family, and I am grateful for her loyalty and commitment. She has rightfully earned a reputation as a great recruiter, as she signed both point guards who led us to another NCAA appearance this past year.
"She is an extreme competitor with the balance it takes to teach the game with patience and compassion. She has a unique knack for developing relationships that allow her to impact young people. She will serve as our recruiting coordinator and continue to work with and develop our forwards."
All three were on the bench with Merriweather at Wright State for at least the last three seasons, and Barlow was alongside Merriweather for all five of her seasons leading the Raiders. Merriweather and Barlow went 113-47 in five seasons at Wright State with four postseason appearances, and the quartet was 65-27 with two NCAA Tournament trips and two Horizon League championships in the last three seasons.
Tennille Adams
Adams joined the Wright State staff as associate head coach before the 2018-19 season after three years as an assistant coach at Ball State. Prior to Ball State, Adams spent two seasons as the head coach at Howard University, and before becoming the head coach at Howard she spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Northwestern after a stint at American University.
At Wright State, Adams made an impact in many areas, but particularly in the Raiders' post play. Adams has been a part of five consecutive postseason trips at Ball State and Wright State, with the sixth season having no postseason play due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Adams was a standout player at the University of Arkansas, where she was a member of the 1998 Final Four team and the 1999 WNIT championship team. One of her most memorable moments was an historic rebound put-back that advanced the Razorbacks to the Final Four. A native of the talent hotbed of East Chicago, Ind., where she attended Central High School, Adams was ranked as one of the top-five post players in the country by BlueStar and was a member of the 1995 Indiana All-Star team.
"Tennille is one of the best do-it-alls in our business," Merriweather said. "During her career, there isn't one responsibility she hasn't had. She is intelligent, charismatic and dedicated. I can rely on her to do what it takes for us to be successful, and I trust her with any and every aspect of our program. She does an excellent job of player development, particularly with post players.
"When Tennille was offered the opportunity to be the associate head coach at Memphis, she didn't hesitate. We have been friends in this business for over 18 years, and I am thrilled to embark on this new journey with her."
Ashley Barlow
Barlow was an assistant coach at Wright State since the 2016-17 season, and in 2018-19 she took on added duties as the program's recruiting coordinator. She was on the bench for Wright State's 113 wins in five seasons, two Horizon League championships and four postseason trips.
Barlow came to Wright State after three years as an assistant coach at Evansville, where her responsibilities included working with the scoring guards, assisting with recruiting, scouting of opponents and other day-to-day operations. Barlow came to Evansville after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at IUPUI. In her two seasons at IUPUI, Barlow worked with the guards and was in charge of travel and film exchange, while assisting with recruiting, scouting and game planning.
Prior to her coaching career, Barlow completed an historic career at Notre Dame in 2010, where she emerged as one of the most versatile players in Fighting Irish history. She is the only player in Notre Dame basketball history, male or female, to eclipse 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 250 assists and 250 steals in a career. A native of Indianapolis, Barlow played professionally in Israel for Elitzur Rishon Le-Zion during the 2010-11 season, where she averaged 20.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.4 steals per game. Prior to starring at Notre Dame, Barlow played at Pike (Ind.) High School where she was a WBCA High School All-American and a two-time all-state selection.
"Ashley is a tremendous role model for our young women," Merriweather said. "She is bright, hard-working and loyal. In the five years we've spent together, she has grown in every aspect of coaching. She has contributed to the success I've had as a head coach in more ways than I can explain. She has a rich family basketball pedigree and a love for the game. Ashley will continue to work with our point guards and shooting guards.
"She knows our playbook like the back of her hand and will serve as our offensive coordinator this season. I have known Ashley since she was a part of The Family, Inc. over 25 years ago, and I am fortunate to have her as a part of the Tiger family."
Abby Jump
Jump joined the Wright State coaching staff prior to the 2018-19 season, which marked a return to her alma mater. In her playing and coaching careers at Wright State, the Raiders went 149-76, and she has developed into one of the best up-and-coming assistant coaches in college basketball.
Before returning to Wright State, Jump helped coach Morehead State to a 42-21 record and the program's first postseason appearance since 2010. She coached and mentored four first- and second-team all-conference players as well as helped sign the highest nationally-ranked recruiting class in school history.
Jump came to Morehead State after spending the 2015-16 season as the director of women's basketball operations at Bucknell University, where she was responsible for creating weekly schedules, sending out recruiting mailers, arranging team travel and coordinating the team's community service efforts. She graduated from Wright State in 2014 after playing high school basketball at Ryle (Ky.), where she was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019. At the time of graduation, she ranked fifth all-time in Kentucky basketball history with 81 3-pointers made.
"As anticipated when I coached her, Abby has grown into a star," explained Merriweather. "Despite other opportunities she decided to join the Tiger family, and I am grateful for her loyalty and commitment. She has rightfully earned a reputation as a great recruiter, as she signed both point guards who led us to another NCAA appearance this past year.
"She is an extreme competitor with the balance it takes to teach the game with patience and compassion. She has a unique knack for developing relationships that allow her to impact young people. She will serve as our recruiting coordinator and continue to work with and develop our forwards."
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