Revonda Whitley is in her fifth season as the head coach of the Claflin University women’s basketball team.
Whitley joined the Lady Panthers in 2017 after serving 13 years as the associate head coach at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), an NCAA Division I program.
In her first two seasons, Whitley led her teams to a better than .500-win percentage (.542).
In 2018-19, the school’s first season as a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), she coached the CIAA Defensive Player of the Year, an All-CIAA First Team member, and an All-CIAA Rookie Team member. Also, in the 18-19 season, Coach Whitley’s team defeated three regionally ranked opponents, two of which were eventual conference champions, Virginia Union of the CIAA, and Anderson University of the South Atlantic Conference. Additionally, her 18-19 Lady Panthers also defeated the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Eastern Division Champions, Benedict College twice.
Whitley is no stranger to the state of South Carolina, having played collegiately at Winthrop University in Rock Hill. She was a four-year standout for the Eagles women’s basketball program from 1990 to 1994, ending a stellar career, with over 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, and 140 steals.
She began her collegiate coaching career at Elizabeth City State in 2001, just an hour away from where she grew up in Pantego, N.C. During her tenure at Elizabeth City State, she served as the Head Volleyball Coach for two seasons (2003-04), while also serving as an adjunct professor in the Physical Education Department (2002-04).
Her coaching resume includes stints as head coach of the Columbia Warriors men's semi-professional basketball team (1998), The Timmerman School (1999) and she was also the head junior varsity coach at Eau Claire High School (2000), all in Columbia, S.C.
Whitley graduated from Winthrop University with a degree in psychology in 1994 and earned a master's degree in human performance and sport studies (sport psychology) from the University of Tennessee in 1997.
In August 2020 she was chosen to participate in the TruNorth Sports Coach Development Academy and is a graduate of the 2019 NCAA Women Coaches Academy Class #47 that was held in Denver, Colo. She is also a member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association
