(Story Courtesy of University of St. Thomas Sports Information Department)
HOUSTON, Texas -- University of St. Thomas Athletic Department is excited to announce Mansa El-Ward as the next Head Women's Basketball Coach. After a nationwide search, Coach El emerged as the top candidate based on her impressive experience and history in the Houston area. Coach El, a Houstonian and former Texas High School State Champion, will join St. Thomas as the third head coach in program history.
"I am thankful to the University and Todd Smith for the opportunity to lead this basketball program," Coach El said. "I am excited for the work ahead, and I look forward to helping my student athletes reach their full potential as students, players and leaders."
El's Experience
Most recently, Coach El was an assistant coach at the University of Houston. There, under Coach Ronald Hughey, she was the program's recruiting coordinator. Prior to joining the Cougars, she served as an assistant coach at the University of South Alabama, where she managed the defensive game plan, player substitutions and time-outs. Off the court, El also oversaw the academic standing of all student athletes and acted as a marketing liaison for the program.
Coach El is also well-known throughout the Houston area as she was the head coach for the Junior Varsity and acted as the Varsity Assistant Coach for the Cy-Springs Boys Basketball Program. In her first season with the team, the Panthers finished 24-10 overall and secured a first-round victory in the UIL Regional Tournament. Then in the next season, her efforts helped CSHS go 27-10, including sharing the district title with a 14-2 mark, as the Panthers advanced to the second round of the regional tournament. During her time at Cy-Springs, El spent her summers as the Head 15U boys coach for the FAM Elite Basketball program and assisted with the 16U and 17U squads.
"Mansa El is a star in the making!" UH Women's Basketball Head Coach Hughey said. "St. Thomas struck gold with the hiring of Coach El. She is a teacher by nature so coaching and building relationships is nothing new to her. Coach El is disciplined, determined, knowledgeable and a fabulous motivator. The future is bright for St. Thomas Women's Basketball."
Coach El was also a student athlete for the South Alabama Jaguars. She was a two-time letter winner from 2011-13, and finished her career with 691 points, 247 rebounds, 162 assists, and 78 steals in 69 career appearances. El received her bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from South Alabama in 2013 and her master's in Human Resource Development from the University of Houston in 2016.
"We are excited to welcome Coach El to St. Thomas and our Celt family," Athletic Director Todd Smith said. "As the process advanced it became clear she was the person we wanted leading our women's basketball program. Her background has prepared her well to lead this program to success on and off the court, but it is her passion and knowledge of the game that impressed us the most!"
Coach El is set to begin her duties as the Head Coach of Celt Women's Basketball on June 26 in the Jerabeck Activity and Athletics Center. For more information on UST Women's Basketball, visit www.ustcelts.com!
