LaQuanda Barksdale Quick joined the UWF staff in July of 2016.
Quick, who spent last season as an assistant coach at Winston-Salem State, is responsible for coaching post players, working with the defensive game plan and serving as the program’s recruiting coordinator.
"I am extremely excited that I have been given an opportunity to work at the University of West Florida,” Quick said. “Everyone, from the Athletic Director to the janitorial staff, was so nice to me when I interviewed. They all made me feel right at home. (Head coach) Stephanie Lawrence Yelton has the program moving in the right direction and I thank her for allowing me to help continue the winning tradition that she has started."
"Coach Quick brings instant credibility from her many years of playing experience at the elite collegiate level and professionally in the WNBA,” Yelton said. “She has also gained respect as a great skill development coach with a major strength and emphasis in aggressive team defense. I'm excited to have Coach Quick join our staff as we continue to pursue excellence."
During the 2015-16 season, WSSU won a dozen games and allowed just 58.8 points per game, while holding opponents to 35.7 percent shooting form the floor.
Prior to WSSU, she was the head varsity girls coach at West Forsyth High School in Clemmons, North Carolina. She compiled a 108-52 record in six seasons from 2009-15, while being named the Central Piedmont 4A Conference Coach of the Year in 2012-13 and 2013-14. She was an assistant coach with the boys varsity program during the 2008-09 campaign.
Quick made a name for herself as a standout guard in both the college and professional ranks. Playing under her maiden name of Barksdale, she had a phenomenal career at North Carolina from 1997-2001. She completed her time under Hall of Fame head coach Sylvia Hatchell with 1,787 points, 977 rebounds, 74 3-pointers made and 59 blocked shots – all of which ranked her in the top ten in each category at the time of graduation.
She led the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring as a junior and senior, and was an All-American during her final year in 2000-01 – becoming just the fourth in school history at the time. She is currently ranked in the top 10 in several career categories at UNC and her #33 jersey hangs in the rafters at Carmichael Arena.
She spent three seasons in the Women’s National Basketball Association after being selected 12th in the 2001 WNBA draft, playing with the Portland Fire and the San Antonio Silver Stars. She also played overseas in Israel, Turkey and China.
Quick also had a stellar high school career as well, being chosen to the All-Central Piedmont 4A Basketball Team four times and was a two-time Player of the Year. She was also named to the All-Northwest team and was a conference Player of the Year in volleyball.
For her efforts, Quick has been inducted into the Winston-Salem Sportsmen Club Hall of Fame which honors outstanding athletes, coaches, and administrators from the Winston-Salem/Forsyth county area.
Quick is a 2003 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor’s degree in African-American studies and a Master’s degree in Secondary Education (Mathematics) from the University of Phoenix.
She is married to Willie Quick, Jr. and has a son, Nicholas Quick.
