Congrats to both good addition for Kelly.......
LuLu McKinney Named Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
CARBONDALE, Ill. Atallah "LuLu" McKinney has joined the Southern Illinois University women's basketball staff as an assistant coach after three seasons in the same role at Texas Southern, head coach Kelly Bond-White announced Tuesday.
"I knew for this position I wanted someone hungry," said Bond-White. "Someone who was ready to roll up their sleeves and fall in love with the work of waking up every morning thinking how they can make themselves better for our young ladies and SIU Women's Basketball. I wanted someone who had been successful and learned to grind on every level."
"I can't begin to express how excited I am to be a part of the Saluki family and the Carbondale community," said McKinney. "The opportunities here at SIU are well beyond basketball; this is where young ladies can enjoy the best of both worlds."
McKinney's tenure in Houston included a 20-win season during the 2019-20 campaign, where she helped lead the Tigers to a 14-4 conference record. The team was preparing for the conference semifinals when the Covid-19 pandemic shut down the rest of the season. Most recently, McKinney helped lead Texas Southern to a 11-7 conference record in the 2021-22 season, which included two victories that were televised on the NBA network.
Prior to her time at Texas Southern, McKinney spent a year on the junior college level as an assistant coach at East Mississippi Community College and Ranger College. At EMCC, she helped guide guard Tye Metcalf to a spot on the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges Women's Basketball All-State/North Division First Team. EMCC finished the season ranked third in the MACJC North Division as they ended Itawamba Community College's 16-game winning streak in 2019. She also showed excellent versatility, handling recruiting, skill development, video coordinating and serving as a dorm director.
"As a combo guard in her playing days, LuLu will work with our guards, assist in scouting, coach special situations and lead the charge in our recruiting efforts," said Bond-White.
Before embarking on her coaching career, McKinney played collegiately at UTEP for three seasons before closing out her career at Texas A&M, where she played for Bond-White as a graduate student in 2016-17.
"I watched LuLu develop as a player in high school and AAU, and carve out an incredible career at UTEP," said Bond-White. "Her work ethic helped her earn her master's degreee in one year and carried over as she decided to go into coaching. Watching her adjust and adapt from junior colleges to Division I, without compromising her values and principles, is what made me think of her. Her constant and relentless quest for seeking knowledge and new ways of doing things is what made me offer her the job."
"Being a former player for Coach Bond and watching her coach helped me grow as a player and now as a coach," said McKinney. "To work alongside her is an honor and an amazing opportunity."
At UTEP, McKinney served as team captain and was a three-year letterwinner at point guard. She was a 2015 C-USA All-Freshman Team member and three-time C-USA Freshman of the Week. McKinney also led the team in assists (89) as a freshman and finished second on the team in steals while averaging 8.1 points per contest (40). In her sophomore campaign, McKinney helped lead the Miners to a Conference USA regular season title and a trip to the WNIT quarterfinals. She capped off her career at UTEP in 2016-17 as the full-time starter while leading the team in three-pointers made (42) in addition to shooting 82.4 percent from the free throw stripe. Off the court, McKinney was just as impressive in the classroom as a two-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll.
During her lone season at Texas A&M, McKinney saw action in 33 games and played a large role as the Aggie women finished the season 26-10 while reaching the NCAA's Sweet 16. McKinney continued to grow off the court as she served on the team's leadership council and participated in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's "So You Want To Be A Coach" program and "A Step Up" Coaching Convention. Both programs provide opportunities for young coaches to develop leadership qualities, refine teaching techniques, work habits and values.
Outside of basketball, McKinney spends time with her dog, Bentley, an all black Cockapoo (hybrid bred from a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle).
"Truth be told, I wanted Bentley," joked Bond-White. "He is the rock star of the family."
McKinney holds a bachelor's in organizational communication with a business minor from UTEP and received her master's in sports management from Texas A&M.
LuLu McKinney Named Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
CARBONDALE, Ill. Atallah "LuLu" McKinney has joined the Southern Illinois University women's basketball staff as an assistant coach after three seasons in the same role at Texas Southern, head coach Kelly Bond-White announced Tuesday.
"I knew for this position I wanted someone hungry," said Bond-White. "Someone who was ready to roll up their sleeves and fall in love with the work of waking up every morning thinking how they can make themselves better for our young ladies and SIU Women's Basketball. I wanted someone who had been successful and learned to grind on every level."
"I can't begin to express how excited I am to be a part of the Saluki family and the Carbondale community," said McKinney. "The opportunities here at SIU are well beyond basketball; this is where young ladies can enjoy the best of both worlds."
McKinney's tenure in Houston included a 20-win season during the 2019-20 campaign, where she helped lead the Tigers to a 14-4 conference record. The team was preparing for the conference semifinals when the Covid-19 pandemic shut down the rest of the season. Most recently, McKinney helped lead Texas Southern to a 11-7 conference record in the 2021-22 season, which included two victories that were televised on the NBA network.
Prior to her time at Texas Southern, McKinney spent a year on the junior college level as an assistant coach at East Mississippi Community College and Ranger College. At EMCC, she helped guide guard Tye Metcalf to a spot on the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges Women's Basketball All-State/North Division First Team. EMCC finished the season ranked third in the MACJC North Division as they ended Itawamba Community College's 16-game winning streak in 2019. She also showed excellent versatility, handling recruiting, skill development, video coordinating and serving as a dorm director.
"As a combo guard in her playing days, LuLu will work with our guards, assist in scouting, coach special situations and lead the charge in our recruiting efforts," said Bond-White.
Before embarking on her coaching career, McKinney played collegiately at UTEP for three seasons before closing out her career at Texas A&M, where she played for Bond-White as a graduate student in 2016-17.
"I watched LuLu develop as a player in high school and AAU, and carve out an incredible career at UTEP," said Bond-White. "Her work ethic helped her earn her master's degreee in one year and carried over as she decided to go into coaching. Watching her adjust and adapt from junior colleges to Division I, without compromising her values and principles, is what made me think of her. Her constant and relentless quest for seeking knowledge and new ways of doing things is what made me offer her the job."
"Being a former player for Coach Bond and watching her coach helped me grow as a player and now as a coach," said McKinney. "To work alongside her is an honor and an amazing opportunity."
At UTEP, McKinney served as team captain and was a three-year letterwinner at point guard. She was a 2015 C-USA All-Freshman Team member and three-time C-USA Freshman of the Week. McKinney also led the team in assists (89) as a freshman and finished second on the team in steals while averaging 8.1 points per contest (40). In her sophomore campaign, McKinney helped lead the Miners to a Conference USA regular season title and a trip to the WNIT quarterfinals. She capped off her career at UTEP in 2016-17 as the full-time starter while leading the team in three-pointers made (42) in addition to shooting 82.4 percent from the free throw stripe. Off the court, McKinney was just as impressive in the classroom as a two-time member of the C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll.
During her lone season at Texas A&M, McKinney saw action in 33 games and played a large role as the Aggie women finished the season 26-10 while reaching the NCAA's Sweet 16. McKinney continued to grow off the court as she served on the team's leadership council and participated in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's "So You Want To Be A Coach" program and "A Step Up" Coaching Convention. Both programs provide opportunities for young coaches to develop leadership qualities, refine teaching techniques, work habits and values.
Outside of basketball, McKinney spends time with her dog, Bentley, an all black Cockapoo (hybrid bred from a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle).
"Truth be told, I wanted Bentley," joked Bond-White. "He is the rock star of the family."
McKinney holds a bachelor's in organizational communication with a business minor from UTEP and received her master's in sports management from Texas A&M.