A New Chapter for the Highlanders
Radford University announced this week that Michala Hash will join the Highlanders' women's basketball program as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the upcoming 2026‑27 season, a move that promises to infuse the squad with fresh strategic insight and recruiting momentum.
Hash arrives with nine years of coaching experience, having navigated roles at Mount Juliet Christian Academy, Sacred Heart, and Coker University before her recent stint at Tusculum University, where she helped shape a competitive Division II program.
A Coaching Journey Across the Southeast
During her two‑year tenure with the Pioneers, she stepped in as interim head coach for the final month of the 2025‑26 campaign, becoming the first former player to both play and later lead the program at the Division II level.
Prior to that, Hash served as head girls basketball coach at Mount Juliet Christian Academy from 2021 to 2024, a period in which she also acted as interim athletic director, overseeing program development and student‑athlete welfare.
Her coaching portfolio also includes a season as coordinator of women's basketball at Sacred Heart and two seasons as an assistant at Coker University, where she temporarily served as interim head coach during the summer and fall of 2020.
Academic Foundations
A 2016 graduate of Tusculum, Hash earned a cum laude bachelor's degree in psychology with a coaching minor, later completing a master's in sports education from Gardner‑Webb University in 2018, credentials that underscore her commitment to both scholarly and athletic excellence.
Leadership Praise from Coach McGuire
Head coach Mike McGuire praised the hire, citing Hash's blend of playing pedigree, strategic acumen and leadership that he believes will elevate the team's culture and on‑court performance, adding that her experience will be a catalyst for sustained growth.
Hash expressed enthusiasm about returning to the Commonwealth, noting that she is eager to contribute to the program's growth and to help shape the next generation of student‑athletes, a sentiment that resonates with the university's broader vision for its athletic departments.