Lady Govs basketball announces addition of Barnes to coaching staff
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. ? There will be a new towering presence on the Austin Peay State University women's basketball
bench this season, but she won't be putting on a uniform. The Lady Govs have added Indiana standout and former WNBA
player Quacy Barnes as an assistant coach, announced head coach Andy Blackston, replacing Kidada Holtzclaw who re-
signed in May.
Barnes, who will tower over the Austin Peay bench at 6-5, comes to Clarksville after serving as assistant coach at Indiana
- her alma mater - the past two seasons. At Indiana, her responsibilities included recruiting, scouting opponents and working
with post players. Barnes will retain those responsibilities at Austin Peay with additional duties coordinating the Lady Govs
strength and conditioning program.
"I'm excited to join Austin Peay's coaching staff," said Barnes. "It's hard when you join a team during the summer because
you don't get to see the players, but seeing the players is something I have to look forward to. However, right now I have to get
acquainted with where Andy and Eric (White, assistant coach) are in the recruiting process for 2006-2007. It is really critical
that I help plot and plan to get us ready for Sept. 16 (the opening day of the recruiting period).
"Quacy is a great hire for us," said Blackston. "She brings two years of coaching experience from Indiana and has attained
a high level competitively as a player, both collegiately and professionally. I believe she will make a huge impact on our team
this season as she will have an ability to relate with our players. Her experience as a player will be invaluable; you can't
quantify four years of college and four years of professional playing experience."
Barnes, a Benton Harbor, Mich. native, played four years in the WNBA after becoming the first Hoosier women's basket-
ball player to be drafted when she was picked by the Sacramento Monarchs with the 22nd overall pick in 1998. She played two
seasons (2000-2001) with the Seattle Storm - under former Austin Peay women's basketball coach Lin Dunn - before ending
her career with the Phoenix Mercury. She also played professionally in Turkey, South Korea, Italy, Israel and China.
Barnes' finest WNBA season came during 2000 with the Storm, playing in 31 of 32 contests, making 23 starts and
averaging 22.7 minutes per game. She averaged a career-best 6.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game while leading the
Mercury with 33 blocked shots.
At her alma mater, Barnes was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 1998 and a third-team honoree in 1997. She also was
named to the 1998 Postseason WNIT team after leading Indiana to the semifinals where they lost to eventual WNIT champion
Penn State.
Barnes finished her career as the school's all-time blocked shots leader, recording 269 career blocked shots - a total which
ranks second among the Big Ten's all-time leaders. She also is ranked among the Indiana's top ten in points (1428, 8th), field-
goal percentage (.526, 3rd), free throws made (380, 3rd) and rebounds (640, 7th). Barnes blocked a school-record 95 shots
during the 1996-97 season, including a school-record 10 against Youngstown State. She finished her collegiate career aver-
aging 12.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.
"I believe it will help to share the experiences I have had," said Barnes. "I have had lots of good experiences and occasion-
ally a bad experience as a player and coach. However, I have learned that whatever is thrown at a team can be dealt with."
Barnes, who graduated from Indiana with a bachelor's degree in physical education, has a son, Trenell.