By Jaden Alaniz
On Friday, March 28, the University of the Incarnate Word Athletic Director, Richard Duran, announced the new hiring of Jhasmin Player as the brand-new head coach for the Womans basketball team.
Duran praised Player saying, “Throughout the interview process, it became obvious to us that Coach Player has an elite basketball mind that comes from not only playing and coaching at the highest level but understanding people and our Mission here at UIW.”
“I feel excited, I’m honored and blessed to have the opportunity to lead young women at this incredible institution,” said Player. Player showed great appreciation to the institution as well as adding some words of motivation for the upcoming season.
“More importantly, I feel the need and the urgency to get to work. I will work tirelessly to find the right people to add to our family at UIW. I’m looking forward to putting a product on the floor and players on this campus that everyone will be proud of. I’m excited to immerse myself in this community and be as available as possible as I get to know everyone. I look forward to blending my family with yours and working with everyone as we strive towards more success and continue putting UIW on the map,” said Player.
She will be the head coach for the next 2025-2026 basketball season and will start her position during the summer.
Player is a 2009 speech communication graduate of Baylor and had many accolades from her time as a bear. Not only was she a 4-year standout player but also served as a team captain during her final two years. Among her accolades, she was a guide for her team to four NCAA tournament appearances, the 2009 Big 12 tournament title, and was named the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team following the Lady Bears’ victory over Texas A&M. Coach Player has nearly 15 years of experience coaching for communities such as OSU, MSU, KU, and LMU. She has left a mark everywhere she has stepped.
“Incarnate Word is getting a winner, but more importantly an amazing person who cares deeply about investing in the lives of her players,” said Oklahoma State women’s basketball Head Coach Jacie Hoyt. In Player’s three seasons at OSU, the Cowgirls registered 20+ wins in two of the three seasons. Player spent her 2021-2022 season helping the SMU Mustangs to a WNIT Berth, as well as spending her 2018-2019 season helping the LMU lions to their first post season appearance since 2001.
Good luck to Coach Player and to the women’s basketball team for this upcoming year and season. Welcome to the nest!
Here is the WORD on Coach Player if you don’t get the hype already:
Amy Vachon
University of Maine Women’s Basketball Head Coach
“The University of incarnate word has hit a home run in hiring Jhasmin Player as their head women’s basketball coach,” said Vachon. “Jhasmin has a brilliant basketball mind, an incredible work ethic and is a top-notch recruiter! But what may be Jhas’ most impressive attribute is her ability to build relationships with her players. She challenges her student athletes to be the very best they can be in every aspect of their lives and there is never a doubt how much she cares about them as a person. I am so excited to see Jhasmin lead the University of Incarnate Word women’s basketball program!”
Jason Key
Premier Basketball, McDonald’s All-American Commitee, ESPN HoopGurlz Recruiting, and Top 100
“Jhasmin Player is one of the brightest young coaches in the world. From her playing career at Bay City HS to Baylor to the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA along with multiple stops in Europe, Player learned the game from many of the top teachers in the game. Jhasmin’s diverse playing and coaching background including stops at LMU, Maine, Kansas, SMU and most recently as the Associate Head Coach have allowed her to become one of the very best recruiters in not only the Texas/Southwest region but across the globe. Look for Jhasmin to lead the Incarnate Word program to unprecedented heights in the very near future!”
Dan Bowmaker
BlueStar Europe
“Coach has been an exceptional recruiter at all her previous schools. Her ability to develop relationships with the players and their families coupled with a great eye for talent has brought her success, which I know will translate to a developing and winning program at Incarnate Wood. She excels in identifying a player’s potential and then working tirelessly to help that player become a better version of themselves on and off the court. The results have and will continue to speak for themselves.”
