Helping Saint Joseph’s to the Atlantic 10 title in her first year, Jada Pierce begins her third season as an assistant coach on Hawk Hill.
Joining the Hawks after two seasons at Army, Pierce was responsible for guard development last season. Under her direction, the Saint Joseph’s backcourt posted more assists and steals than the previous season, while the team’s defense held opponents to five fewer points per game than the year before.
Individually, Pierce has played a strong role in the success of senior Natasha Cloud and recent graduate Erin Shields. Under Pierce’s guidance Cloud has been named to the Nancy Lieberman Award List, and selected the 2014 A-10 Defensive Player of the Year and the Most Outstanding Player of the 2013 A-10 Championship. Shields capped her career matching the career record for three-pointers and set the all-time record for free throw percentage. A two-time A-10 All-Conference honoree, Shields finished 10th all-time in scoring and set the single-season record for three-pointers.
At West Point from 2010-12, Pierce helped the Black Knights to a 15-13 record in the Patriot League and a 20-10 mark at home. Individually, she helped four players garner All-Patriot League honors, including First Team recipients Erin Anthony and Anna Simmers in 2010-11 and 2011-12, respectively.
Before coaching at Army, Pierce served as an assistant at Mount St. Mary's for the 2009-10 season and at Massachusetts the previous two seasons. From 2007-09 Pierce helped the team to two straight Atlantic 10 Tournament berths, with two Minutewomen earning All-Conference honors and one garnering All-Rookie Team distinction.
Serving as an assistant at Marist in 2006-07, Pierce helped the Red Foxes to a program-best 29-6 record, their fourth-straight MAAC title and the team's first Sweet 16 appearance.
Prior to Marist, Pierce spent two seasons as head coach at Cheyney University. During her tenure with the Wolves, Pierce had 12 players garner scholar-athlete honors, with one player earning All-Conference accolades.
Following a successful playing career at West Chester, Pierce began her coaching career as an assistant at St. Michael's from 1997-99, helping the Purple Knights to the Northeast 10 Tournament in 1999. She spent the next two seasons as an assistant at Delaware, guiding the Blue Hens to a 47-13 record over that period, including an America East title and NCAA Tournament berth in 2000-01. Following that, Pierce spent three seasons as an assistant at Massachusetts-Lowell. From 2001-04, she helped the River Hawks to a 51-36 record, a trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament in 2003 and a Northeast 10 Tournament berth each year.
A two-sport standout at Central High School, Pierce was a four-year letterwinner on the court, earning Philadelphia Public League All-Star honors as a sophomore and junior (1990, 1991) and First Team Philadelphia All-Public League honors in 1992. Averaging 21 points per game as a senior, she set Central's all-time scoring record, while her only season on the track and field squad saw her earn All-Public League honors in the high jump. Pierce became the first female be inducted into the Central High School Athletic Honor Roll in 2001.
Pierce's success at Central carried over to her collegiate career at West Chester. Playing for the Rams from 1992-97, she helped the Golden Rams to a 55-51 record over that stretch, including the program’s first NCAA Division II Tournament berth as a senior co-captain in 1996-97.
