HARRISONBURG, Va. (JMU Athletics) – James Madison Head Coach Sean O’Regan announced the hiring of Alex Tomlinson as the women’s basketball program’s new assistant coach/recruiting coordinator for the 2024-25 season.

Tomlinson has heavy ties to the Commonwealth of Virginia, having previously served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Radford (2022-24) and Division III Christopher Newport (2019-2022).

“We are so elated to add Alex to our family,” O’Regan said. “She’s sharp, motivated and a rising star in this business. Most importantly, she’s the right fit for what we need. She will be a great addition to our family.”

This past season at Radford, the Highlanders finished 15-18 overall with a 9-7 mark against Big South Conference foes for third in the league, culminating in a loss to Presbyterian in the Big South title game. RU’s 15 wins were the most for the program since going 17-12 (15-5 Big South) in the 2019-20 campaign. Moreover, the Highlanders led the conference in turnover margin (+2.88) while finishing third in assist/turnover ratio (0.74) and fourth in offense (60.7 ppg) this past season in conference play.

“I would like to thank Coach O’Regan for the opportunity to join his staff at JMU,” said Tomlinson. “I am eager and excited to work at a program with such a rich history in women’s basketball. I look forward to working with our fantastic student-athletes, staff and community here in Harrisonburg! Go Dukes!”

As a recruiter, Tomlinson pulled in two class of 2027 players – Terrissa Lavoile-Brice and Joi Williams – who would go on to earn spots on the Big South All-Freshman team and combined for seven Big South Freshman of the Week honors. Additionally, she helped bring in six transfers for the 2023-24 season, including Taniya Hanner who was named Honorable Mention All-Conference after finishing third in the league in rebounding at 7.3 boards per game.

Tomlinson also served as the point guard coach, highlighted by helping foster the development of Williams and fellow guards Olivia Wagner and Ashlyn Traylor. Between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, Wagner’s three-point proficiency rose from 27.8 percent to 36.4 percent, good for sixth in the league her sophomore year. Wagner shot a Radford-record 7-for-7 from three against Longwood, also tying the Big South record for best three-point percentage (minimum of seven made). The season prior, Traylor earned the title of Big South Freshman of the Year and was a Second Team All-Big South selection after earning seven league freshman of the week awards.

In her final season at Christopher Newport, Tomlinson helped guide the Captains to a 26-1 overall mark, an NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance and the first No.1 overall national ranking (WBCA and D3hoops.com) in program history. That season saw CNU reach its 43rd consecutive win – a school record and the ninth-longest winning streak in NCAA DIII history. Guard Sondra Fan averaged 14.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game to earn All-America honors from the WBCA and D3hoops.com, as well as being named Coast-To-Coast Player of the Year. For her mentorship, Tomlinson was named 2022 WBCA Division III Assistant Coach of the Year. The season also saw the Captains finish second in Division III in scoring margin (+31.6), second in turnover margin (+12.2), third in scoring offense (85.9ppg), third in field goal percentage (.465) and fourth in turnovers forced per game (27.9).

Prior to coaching, the Raleigh, N.C., native was a guard at Division II Wingate from 2013-2017, helping the Bulldogs capture three South Atlantic Conference titles and making three NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship appearances.

Tomlinson graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Wingate in 2017 with a minor in sport management. She went on to earn a master’s degree in social work from North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2019.

— JMU Athletics —