June 25, 2016

Mincey brings in Burstrom as assistant

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head women’s basketball coach Mike Mincey has announced the hiring of the program’s all-time leader in made threes Tatum Burstrom as an assistant coach.

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head women's basketball coach Mike Mincey has announced the hiring of the program's all-time leader in made threes Tatum Burstrom as an assistant coach.

"I've been fortunate to have two former Lady Eagles help me run this program over my first 5 years and I'm delighted to add another," Mincey said. "Tatum decided to come play for me with no head coaching experience and trusted me with her four years of college. I felt like she could be an accelerant for our program as a player and I trust she can do the same as a coach.

"She will be able to help the players in so many facets of college life and will also be able to give future student-athletes a true insight as to what it takes to be successful on and off the floor at C-N. She can already evaluate talent and even though not a coach at the time, I've had many conversations about strategy and have always impressed with her basketball IQ."

Burstrom became the 17th Lady Eagle to score at least 1,000 points in her career doing so against North Georgia on Dec. 3. She also became the all-time leader in made three-pointers at Queens (N.C.) on Dec. 12

"I've wanted to be a coach since I got to college," Burstrom said. "This place has been so special for me for four years. Then I've watched this program grow from where it was my freshman year. That's just something I'm excited to be a part of."

Burstrom wraps up her ccareer fourth in SAC history with 254 made three-points. The program's leader in made triples concludes her four years with 1,234 points, good for ninth in C-N history. The senior scored in double figures 64 times in her four seasons while leading the team in scoring in 30 games. She made at least three three-pointers on 43 occasions.

She was just the fifth player in program history to earn postseason plaudits from the league in three seasons.

Burstrom broke her hand midway through her senior season. She credits that experience sitting on the bench with cementing coaching as a career choice.

"I got to see it and hear it from Mince and Coach (Ashley) Kyle's perspective," Burstrom said. "That really became I positive because it made me look at the game in a different way."

I've been fortunate to have 2 former Lady Eagles help me run this program over my first 5 years and I'm

delighted to add another. Tatum decided to come play for me with no head coaching experience and

trusted me with her 4 years of college. I felt like she could be an accelerant for our program as a player

and I trust she can do the same as a coach. Tatum has really grown over these past 4 years and I'm

confident she has the makings of a great coach. . She will be able to help the players in so many

facets of college life and will also be able to give future student-athletes a true insight as to what

it takes to be successful on and off the floor at CNU. She can already evaluate talent and even

though not a coach at the time, I've had many conversations about strategy etc. during her time as a

player and was always impressed with her basketball IQ. I'm excited to have Tatum as my assistant

and I know she will do a great job for me, but more importantly for our players.