NCWC alumna Artina Trader to head women's hoops program

Rocky Mount, NC - The North Carolina Wesleyan Department of Athletics is pleased to announce that College alumna Artina J. Trader has been named head coach of the Battling Bishop women's basketball program. A 1999 Wesleyan graduate and four-year letterwinner for the Bishops, Trader succeeds her former coach John Brackett and is just the third head coach to lead the program in the past 40 years. She is ecstatic to make the return to her alma mater.

"Having the opportunity to return to North Carolina Wesleyan is a tremendous honor," said Trader. "I have so many wonderful memories from my playing days with the Bishops, and I look forward to creating many more as a member of the coaching staff. This is truly surreal!"

Trader recently completed her fifth season as the head women's basketball coach and Senior Woman Administrator at Thiel College in Greenville, PA where she helped turn the Tomcat program in the right direction. This past season, she led the Tomcats to a Presidents' Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal appearance for the second time during her tenure, while her five seasons at the helm of the program saw two players eclipse the 1,000 career point plateau, as well one player garner recognition as a pre-season All-American by DIII News.

Additionally, Trader produced three All-Great Lake Region picks, seven All-PAC selections, and several Conference Players of the Week in her five seasons.  In the classroom, the Tomcats had 17 student-athletes garner recognition on the Dean’s List, five of which were named to the PAC Academic Honor Roll with a 3.6 GPA or higher.

During her collegiate career at North Carolina Wesleyan, the Annapolis, MD native helped lead the Bishops to the 1999 Dixie Conference Tournament Championship (currently the USA South Athletic Conference) and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. A three-year starter at point guard and a two-time team captain, Trader led the league in assists her final two seasons and graduated holding program records for most assists in a game (14), most free-throws made in a season (125), and most free throws attempted in a season (175).

Commented Trader, "Over my four years as a player, our Wesleyan teams faced struggles but got better every season.  We worked hard to prepare, we believed in ourselves, and we played the game with confidence and a competitive spirit... I hope to instill these same traits in today's Bishop players."

Upon graduation from NCWC, Trader began the first of two stints as an assistant coach at Allegheny College: the first from 1999 until 2002 and again during the 2003-04 season. In 2001, she helped guide Allegheny to its first regular season North Coast Athletic Conference title since 1989, and in 2004, the Gators made their first appearance in the NCAC championship game in 15 years.  Thanks to a strong recruiting effort, Allegheny had a 46-18 record in conference play from 2000 to 2004 and had 12 players selected to the All-NCAC team.  In 2003, the conference coaches recognized recruiting efforts of the staff with the program’s first NCAC Newcomer of the Year honor.

Before her second stint as an assistant at Allegheny, Trader was an assistant coach at John Carroll University during the 2002-2003 season. While at JCU, she served as head junior varsity coach and recruiting coordinator for the Blue Streaks. She is humbled to replace her former coach at NCWC.

"I still smile when I think of playing for Coach Brackett," said Trader. "He has an analytical mind and offers a unique perspective to the game.  I know I have his support, and I plan to pick his brain often!"

Prior to Trader's hiring, Brackett led the women's basketball program for 20 seasons and will step aside as the all-time career wins leader.  For the past 18 seasons, he has also headed up Wesleyan's softball program where he again holds the record for career victories. Recent staff adjustments have allowed the veteran coach to concentrate on one sport (softball), while he will also serve as Academic Advisor for the Department of Athletics. He is pleased to see his former player take the reigns of the program.

"In my opinion, the program could not have been left in better hands," said Brackett.  "Artina was a 'coach' on the floor during her playing days, and although she has been away from the conference for the past ten years, she knows what it will take to be successful. Her passion for North Carolina Wesleyan, along with her collegiate coaching experience, will make this a very smooth transition."

In addition to her coaching duties, Trader will also serve as Director of Indoor Facilities. She will arrive on campus in early September and plans to reside in Rocky Mount.