Presbyterian College Names Tiffany Sardin Head Women’s Basketball Coach

Presbyterian College and the Blue Hose athletic department have announced that Tiffany Sardin will be introduced as the ninth-ever head coach of the Blue Hose women’s basketball program, announced on Friday afternoon.

With a coaching career spanning 10 years across seven different schools, Sardin boasts an impressive track record that includes two conference tournament championship victories and winning a Women’s Basketball Invitational Title.

She has directed 10 different All-Conference players within five different leagues, including four First Team selections and one Freshman of the Year.

“Coach Sardin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our Women’s Basketball program”, PC Director of Athletics Dee Nichols said. “She is committed to continue the success of this program with a focus on player development, mentorship, and personal growth for each player both on and off the court. Her ability to recruit great players is an outstanding accomplishment that is evident in her body of work.”

“She has a passion for service and giving back to the community which aligns with the college’s mission. Coach Sardin embodies the qualities of great character, strong leadership, and a winning attitude. From the first time she and I spoke, I felt confident that she is the right person to lead these amazing women in the next chapter of PC Women’s basketball.”

Most recently at SLU in the 2022-23 season, she served as Associate Head Coach for a team that captured the A-10 Tourney Title.

Sardin’s assistantship at Longwood University (2019-20) also provided her with valuable insights and a strong foundation of knowledge about the Big South Conference.

Sardin went to school at the University of Virginia from 2002-2006 where she saw victory in 71 games including back-to-back 20-win seasons. She also earned a multitude of achievements during her time competing with the Cavaliers.

After graduating from UVA, Sardin spent two years at Liberty University earning her master’s degree in Criminal Justice / Counseling.

Following her collegiate years, Sardin embarked on a successful basketball career overseas in Portugal, further enhancing her already impressive resume.

“I can’t express enough gratitude for this opportunity to lead the women of Presbyterian College,” Sardin remarked after accepting the position. “I want to thank Dee Nichols, her leadership team, and President Gustafson for believing in me. The foundation Coach Sharp laid that led to this past championship season is truly admirable. I am so excited for this journey, and looking forward to taking the program to new heights.”

SAINT LOUIS (2022-2023)
Sardin assumes the head coaching position at PC following a successful season at Saint Louis University, where she served as the associate head coach. Her leadership was instrumental in guiding the team to the Atlantic-10 Conference Tournament Championship behind a 10-6 conference record, the program’s best since the 2016-17 season.

During her tenure at SLU, she led the Billikens to their first-ever victory in the A-10 championship game, where they triumphed over UMass in an overtime battle, securing a 91-85 win. This postseason victory gave the team their first-ever automatic bid to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament.

Under Coach Sardin’s guidance at Saint Louis, three players earned notable A-10 All-Conference honors. Brooke Flowers stood out as an All-Second Team member and an All-Defensive player. Kyla McMakin, previously under Sardin’s tutelage at Longwood, made the conference’s All-Second Team. Additionally, Julia Martinez’s defensive skills earned her recognition as an A-10 All-Defensive player.

CHICAGO STATE (2020-2022)
Before her time at Saint Louis, Sardin was given her first duties as a head coach, leading the Chicago State Cougars for two seasons. In the 2021-22 season, she played a pivotal role in the Cougars’ resurgence, helping them achieve a level of success not seen in years. Under her leadership, the team matched their total number of victories from the previous four years combined.

One standout moment was their thrilling overtime victory against the University of Wisconsin in Sardin’s second season incharge. This win was particularly significant as it marked the first time Chicago State had defeated a Big Ten opponent since the 2008 season.

As a head coach in the Western Atlantic Conference, Sardin guided Aaliyah Collins to notable success, earning her a spot on the conference’s All-Second Team. Collins also garnered a USWBA Freshman of the Week award in 2022.

LONGWOOD (2018-2020)
Prior to her head coaching gig at Chicago State, Sardin was the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator of the Longwood Lancers for two years. During her time coaching the Lancers, she made two appearances in the Big South Conference Tournament.

Three Longwood players earned Big South recognition during Sardin’s tenure in Farmville. Kyla McMakin was honored with First-Team All-Conference, All-Freshman, and Freshman of the Year achievements during her time under coach Sardin. Dayna Rouse was a two-time Second Team All-Conference player while Anne-Hamilton LeRoy was named to the conference’s All-Freshman Team.

BOSTON U & CLEMSON (2015-2018)
After spending one season as an assistant at Boston University, Sardin joined the Atlantic Coast Conference as an assistant coach for the Clemson Tigers. She contributed to 26 wins over two seasons, highlighted by an outstanding 8-0 record at the onset of her debut year with the Tigers.

ILLINOIS-CHICAGO (2013-2015)
Before her transition to Boston, Sardin served as an assistant coach for the University of Illinois-Chicago for two seasons. Her impact on the Flames was significant, contributing to their impressive success with a 42-23 overall record and a solid 16-16 ratio in the Horizon League.

In her inaugural season with the program, UIC achieved an outstanding 26-9 record, marking the nation’s largest turnaround with 17 more wins than the previous season. This remarkable performance set a new standard for the program by reaching the most wins in a single season.

Securing a spot in the Women’s Basketball Invitational, the Flames (seeded fourth in the WBI) made a run to the championship. They defeated Purdue Fort Wayne 84-71 in the first round and narrowly beat top-seed Eastern Michigan 93-91 in the quarterfinals. In the semis, they dominated Fairfield with a 74-44 victory. Their journey culminated in a historic 73-64 win over Stephen F. Austin, securing their first-ever WBI title under Coach Sardin’s leadership.

Guided by Coach Sardin’s mentorship, Ruvanna Campbell achieved significant accolades as a player, earning recognition as a two-time First Team All-Conference honoree and a two-time All-Defensive player.

MOUNT OLIVE (2012-2013)
Sardin began her coaching career at Mount Olive College, where she served as an assistant coach for one year. Her impact was evident as she contributed to an 18-12 record along with an 11-11 conference mark during her tenure with the Trojans.

The team achieved a significant milestone by winning their first-ever Conference Carolinas Championship. They secured this historic victory by defeating Pfeiffer with a thrilling 79-74 overtime win.

Tamara NeSmith’s exceptional performance during the team’s memorable season earned her a well-deserved spot on the conference’s First Team All-Conference list.

PLAYING CAREER
Sardin’s stellar playing career at the University of Virginia spanned from 2002-2006, leaving her mark on the ACC basketball landscape as a three time team captain. Her exceptional talent and dedication led to 71 wins as a Cavalier alongside consecutive 20-win campaigns as an upperclassman.

Sardin’s skills on the court carried over to postseason accolades, named to the ACC All-Tournament team in 2005. Moreover, she received several prestigious awards from the program, such as the Coaches’ Award of Excellence, Best Offensive Player, and Leadership Awards in 2006.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of Virginia in 2006.

After her successful collegiate career, Sardin transitioned into the professional basketball arena, playing in Portugal. Her impact was profound, as she emerged as a leader in scoring and rebounding for her team. Her contributions helped mark a significant milestone as she helped guide them to their first-ever Euro Cup appearance.

COACHING ACHIEVEMENTS
Atlantic-10 Conference Tournament Champion (2023) – Saint Louis
NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Berth (2023) – Saint Louis
Women’s Basketball Invitational Champion (2014) – Illinois-Chicago
Conference Carolinas Tournament Champion (2013) – Mount Olive
Coached 10 different All-Conference Players at five separate schools:
– Four First-Team
– Six Second-Team
– Six All-Defense
– Two All-Freshman
– One Freshman of the Year