NcKell Copeland Position: Assistant Coach Experience: First Season

NcKell (pronounced nah-KELL) Copeland joined the Michigan State coaching staff on June 8 as an assistant coach. Copeland has quickly moved up the coaching ranks, having served as an assistant coach at Bradley University, University of Toledo and Jacksonville State University.

Copeland will serve as the Spartans' recruiting coordinator, in addition to focusing on guard development. She will also assist with opponent scouts and game preparation.

"NcKell is a rising star in the coaching profession," said Merchant. "She possesses a tremendous work ethic, knowledge of the game, and has outstanding recruiting contacts that will make an immediate impact at Michigan State. We are looking forward to her taking over the recruiting coordinator position and assisting in the continual development of our backcourt. In addition to her outgoing personality, NcKell has an advanced technological background which will be a great asset to our staff."

"I am ecstatic about the opportunity to be a part of the Spartan family," said Copeland. "Suzy Merchant is a tremendous coach and I look forward to working with her and her staff. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and a great chance for me to grow as an individual and coach. MSU is a place of tradition and consistency, and I look forward to contributing to what has already been established in the best conference in women's basketball."

Copeland spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach at Bradley, where she was responsible for scouting and recruiting, along with developing the Braves' backcourt. During her tenure, Bradley posted the most wins in program history with 21 in 2008-09, and followed that up by tying the school record with 12 conference wins and advanced to its first postseason appearance (Women's Basketball Invitational) in 2009-10.

Prior to Bradley, Copeland spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Toledo. With the Rockets, she worked with the guards, while assisting with recruiting, scouting, academic progression and individual skill development.

A four-year letterwinner and two-year captain at Jacksonville State University from 1999-2003, Copeland spent three seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at her alma mater after graduation. During her playing career, she broke the JSU career steals record with 151, which now ranks second all-time. A three-time Ohio Valley Conference All-Academic selection, Copeland led the Gamecocks in steals as a sophomore and junior, and also paced them in both assists and minutes as a sophomore. Her sophomore total of 61 steals is second on the JSU single-season list.

Born in San Jose, Calif., but raised in Marietta, Ga., Copeland graduated from JSU in 2003 with a degree in communication.