Years in Coaching: 22nd season
Years at USF: 1st season
Alma Mater: Arkansas, 1999
Hometown: East Chicago, Indiana
NOTABLES
- Coached four WNBA draft selections (three at Alabama, one at Northwestern)
- Guided Wright State to a pair of Horizon League titles and NCAA Tournament berths during her three-year tenure as the associate head coach, including a second-round appearance in 2021.
- Served as head coach at Howard for two seasons (2013-15)
- Brought in the 14th-ranked recruiting class in 2011 and the 20th-ranked class in 2009 while serving as assistant coach at Northwestern.
- Played college basketball at Arkansas where she was a member of the 1998 Final Four team and 1999 WNIT Championship team
Tennille Adams joined Kristy Curry’s first South Florida staff as an assistant coach in April 2026. She came to South Florida after three seasons as an assistant coach at Alabama. With 22 years of experience, Adams is a proven recruiter and considered one of the top post-development coaches in the country.
BEFORE SOUTH FLORIDA
At Alabama, Adams worked primarily with post players, including a 2024 SEC All-Freshman selection Essence Cody. She coached 2025 WNBA Draft selections in Sarah Ashlee Barker (Los Angeles Sparks – 9
th overall pick), Aaliyah Nye (Las Vegas Aces – 13
th), and Zaay Green (Washington Mystics – 32
nd). In addition to her on-court player development, Adams helped Alabama achieve a Top 25 recruiting class in 2025 (No. 17).
Adams was an associate head coach at three schools, including UCF (2022-23), Memphis (2021-22), and Wright State (2018-21). She helped guide Wright State to a pair of Horizon League titles and NCAA Tournament berths during her three-year tenure, including a second-round appearance in 2021. Adams developed Horizon League Freshman of the Year Shamarra Hale and All-Defensive team honoree Tyler Frierson.
Adams served as an assistant coach for three seasons at Ball State (2015-18) and helped the Cardinals make three consecutive trips to the WNIT. She assisted in the development of All-MAC First Team selections Renee Bennett and Natalie Fontaine.
Before serving as the head coach at Howard University from 2013-15, Adams spent five seasons as an assistant coach to legendary coach Joe McKeown at Northwestern (2008-13), where she helped the team reach back-to-back WNIT appearances while bringing in the 14th-ranked recruiting class in 2011 and the 20th-ranked class in 2009. Adams also developed WBNA draft pick Amy Jaeschke during her time at Northwestern.
Adams served as an assistant coach at American during the 2007-08 season after coaching at North Carolina A&T for two years (2005-07). She began her coaching career at Lon Morris Junior College as an assistant coach in 2004.
Playing college basketball at Arkansas for future Hall of Fame coach Gary Blair, Adams helped lead the Razorbacks to the 1998 Final Four and 1999 WNIT Championship. She made the historic rebound put-back that advanced the Razorbacks to their first NCAA Final Four appearance in school history. Adams was an Indiana All-Star and ranked as one of the nation’ s top five high school post players while receiving Parade All-America honors
PERSONAL
Adams is a member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated. She attended the 2013 Women’s Coaches Academy and trained at The Center for Coaching Excellence in 2015.
COACHING CAREER
2026-present: South Florida, Assistant Coach
2023-26: Alabama, Assistant Coach
2022-23: UCF, Associate Head Coach
2021-22: Memphis, Associate Head Coach
2018-21: Wright State, Associate Head Coach
2015-18: Ball State, Assistant Coach
2013-15: Howard, Head Coach
2008-13: Northwestern, Assistant Coach
2007-08: American, Assistant Coach
2005-07: North Carolina A&T, Assistant Coach
2004-05: Lon Morris Junior College, Assistant Coach
