Donchez Graham is set to begin his first season with Indiana State’s women’s basketball program after being hired as associate head coach in July 2026. The university announced his arrival as part of a broader effort to strengthen the Sycamores’ competitive edge in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Graham arrives with more than two decades of coaching experience across multiple levels, having guided teams at Delaware State, Morgan State, the College of Charleston and West Virginia, as well as high school programs in Maryland. His reputation rests on transformative defensive schemes that have consistently tightened scoring margins and produced statistically significant improvements.
Defensive mastery and player growth
At Delaware State, his defensive overhaul trimmed opponents’ points per game by nearly seven while expanding the scoring margin by eight points, a turnaround that helped the Hornets climb into the national rankings for steals and scoring defense. The impact was similarly evident at Morgan State, where the staff oversaw a 120‑win stretch, four top‑three finishes in the MEAC and a 2022 WNIT appearance.
His tenure at the College of Charleston culminated in 35 victories and two postseason berths in the Women’s Basketball Invitational, while at West Virginia he helped secure an at‑large NCAA Tournament bid and a second‑round upset. Prior to his college career, Graham led Western High School to a 46‑6 record, capturing city and regional titles and advancing to the state final four on two occasions.
Beyond wins, Graham has championed academic excellence, overseeing teams that maintained cumulative GPAs above 3.0 and mentoring players who earned all‑conference honors. Liliana Harrison, a freshman guard, was recently named to the MEAC All‑Rookie Team, underscoring the coach’s ability to integrate newcomers into a winning culture.
With a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Morgan State and a master’s in school improvement leadership from Goucher, Graham blends analytical insight with a player‑first philosophy. His upcoming debut at Indiana State is highly anticipated by fans and administrators alike, who hope his defensive acumen will translate into a resurgence for the program.