Thomas-Swinson named Tulsa’s women’s hoops coach

Tulsa, OK (Basketball News) - Tulsa named Charlene Thomas-Swinson its new women’s basketball coach.

Thomas-Swinson, who had spent the past three seasons as the assistant coach at Florida, becomes the ninth head coach in Golden Hurricane history.

"I’m very excited and looking forward to taking over the Tulsa women’s basketball program," Thomas-Swinson said.

The 39-year-old Thomas-Swinson has 13 years of coaching experience in the college ranks and has also spent three campaigns in the WNBA.

"We’re extremely pleased to have Charlene as our head basketball coach," said director of athletics Judy MacLeod. "She has tremendous knowledge of women’s basketball and has proven to be an outstanding recruiter. Charlene brings the personal characteristics and qualities that we were looking for in a head coach.

"With the quality of candidates that were interested in this position, it became very evident that the reputation of Tulsa women’s basketball has gained prominence nationally," added MacLeod.

Thomas-Swinson has served as an assistant coach at Columbia Union College, Auburn and Florida. In addition, she was an assistant coach for USA Basketball from 1998-99, as she coached with the 1998 USA Women’s Select Team and was a member of the USA National Team staff in 1999.

Prior to her three years with the Gators, Thomas-Swinson served under current Florida head coach Carolyn Peck with the WNBA’s Orlando Miracle for three years (1999-2002).

She also had a stint as the head coach at St. John’s University (1996-99).