By T. Scott Boatright
GRAMBLING — Being teammates on a high school athletics team can create strong bonds.
Grambling State University is hoping such a bond will benefit its women’s basketball program starting as Quianna Chaney has accepted an assistant coaching position under Lady Tigers head coach Courtney Simmons, who was a teammate of Chaney’s during their high school days at Southern Lab High School in Baton Rouge.
Chaney announced earlier this week that she is leaving her role as head coach at Southern Lab to join her former high school teammate at GSU.
It’s been a championship partnership in the past. Chaney and Simmons, who went on to play collegiately at Tulane, Trinity Valley Community College and Louisville, to win two Louisiana High School Athletics Association titles before Chaney moved on to her college career at LSU, being named Louisiana Miss Basketball following her senior season.
At LSU, Chaney played on four Final Four teams at LSU, totaling 1,345 career points in the process.
Chaney earned SEC All-Freshman recognition and was a second-team All-SEC selection during collegiate career.
The WNBA’s Chicago Sky drafted Chaney No. 19 overall in the 2008 league draft.
Chaney played professionally overseas for 10 years before returning to Louisiana to take over the girls hoops program at Southern Lab.
When you surround yourself with the winners the conversations are just different. Coach Quianna brings experience, a wealth of knowledge, and an edge I’ve been missing,” Simmons said about the hire. “GSU Women’s basketball has definitely got better today.”
Having turned down college coaching opportunities previously, Chaney said the timing just felt right to join her high school teammate at Grambling.
“I am truly excited and blessed to join the Grambling State University women’s basketball coaching staff,” Chaney said. “I am incredibly grateful for the journey that has led me to this opportunity and for all of the players, coaches, and communities who have supported me along the way.
“When God opens new doors, I walk through them with faith and purpose. I look forward to contributing to the continued success of this historic program — it’s all about the SWAC now.”
