Rutgers women’s basketball has added former LSU Forward LaDazhia Williams as an assistant coach, according to a press release put out by the university. LaDazhia played under new Scarlet Knight Head Coach Gary Redus II during his time as an assistant coach with the Tigers, starting every game for the 2023 LSU team that won the national championship. She now reunites with her former coach on Rutgers’ coaching staff.
LaDazhia only played at LSU for one season in 2023. She started her career at South
Carolina in 2017, where she played two seasons under Dawn Staley, when the Gamecocks reached the Elite 8 and Sweet 16. After seeing limited playing time with South Carolina, she opted to transfer to Missouri, but was forced to sit out a year due to transfer rules at the time. She ended up playing two seasons with the Tigers, averaging 10.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per game over that time. She then moved on to LSU for her final season, recording 9.9 points per game and 6 rebounds per game, starting every game on the national championship team.
Following her college career, Williams was selected by the Indiana Fever as the 17th overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft. She was later released in the preseason and has not appeared in a WNBA game since.
Since then, LaDazhia has played in many different leagues internationally, spending time in Israel, France, Mexico, Greece, Romania, and Lebanon.
Redus spoke highly of LaDazhia in the press release.
“I was fortunate enough to coach LaDazhia, and now I am so excited to have the opportunity to work with her. Her leadership on the 2023 championship team at LSU was invaluable, and that’s something she’ll be able to bring to this program right away. She has a calming presence but is also a fierce competitor. I think very highly of her and believe she has the potential for a long, successful career in this profession. She can still get out on the court and play, which will be a huge asset in developing our post players. I’m excited for her to begin her coaching journey with us.”
With the addition of LaDazhia, Redus has now officially added six new faces to his staff, as the announcement also made the hirings of Daphne Mitchell, Manisha Redus, Preston Beverly, Lauren Hanson, and Matthew Brune official.
