Shaw University made headlines this week by appointing Ebony Tanner as the inaugural woman to lead its women’s basketball program, a move that underscores the institution’s commitment to diversity and excellence in athletics.
Tanner brings a résumé that blends playing brilliance with coaching acumen, having once been a standout guard for the University of Richmond and later translating that experience into a series of successful coaching stops across the collegiate landscape.
Her coaching journey includes a formative period as an assistant at Shaw, where she helped the Lady Bears capture the 2008 CIAA Championship, followed by head coaching roles at Elizabeth City State University and Saint Augustine’s University, where she orchestrated program turnarounds and earned accolades for player development.
Prior to her latest appointment, Tanner honed her leadership at the University of Hartford and spent eight seasons at her alma mater, the University of Richmond, before taking her first head coaching position, a trajectory that also saw her compete professionally in Israel and Greece before returning to the sidelines.
A historic appointment
In her new role, Tanner says she wants to build on the program’s legacy while opening pathways for the next generation of women in sports, a vision that resonates with university officials eager to showcase Shaw as a incubator for talent both on and off the court.
The appointment has sparked enthusiasm among alumni and community leaders, who see the hire as a powerful statement that will inspire prospective student‑athletes and reinforce Shaw’s reputation as a hub for athletic innovation within the HBCU community.