Anita Howard Rounds Out Staff With Two Additions
6/25/2019 11:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Head Eagle women's basketball coach adds Keyonna Allen and DJ Waller to the program for 2019-20
STATESBORO - Georgia Southern Head Women's Basketball Coach Anita Howard has rounded out her coaching staff for the upcoming 2019-20 season, announcing the addition of Keyonna Allen as the Director of Basketball Operations and D.J. Waller as a Graduate Assistant Coach.
"I am super excited to finish off our dream team staff by announcing the addition of Keyonna and DJ to the Eagles," Howard said.
Allen joins the Eagles from Campbell University, where she served as the DOBO for the Camels for each of the last three seasons. This followed an outstanding playing career where Allen starred for Presbyterian College for three seasons, then finished her collegiate career as a graduate transfer at Wake Forest.
A native of Forest Park, Ga., Allen was a standout for the Panthers, helping lead them to the Georgia 4-A Final Four as well as earning Wendy's High School Heisman finalist honors.
She graduated from Presbyterian with her bachelor's degree in psychology in 2014, and received her master's degree in liberal studies from Wake Forest in 2016.
"Keyonna is super energetic and eager to maintain all of the day to day activities for our program," Howard said. "As a former D1 player, she understands the needs of our players and staff alike. Keyonna comes highly recommended and has yet to disappoint. I'm glad we could bring her back home to Georgia to further her career in athletics her at GS!"
Waller, meanwhile, stays at his alma mater to begin his collegiate coaching career with the Eagles. A native of Eatonton, Ga., Waller earned his bachelor's degree in political science and government from Georgia Southern in 2018, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and he is currently pursuing his master's of public administration in Statesboro.
While in Statesboro, Waller was a practice player for the Eagles all four years of his undergraduate studies, while also serving as a student manager for the men's basketball team for two years. He has also has worked for the last four years with the Statesboro-Bulloch Parks and Recreation and coached the Statesboro Warriors 7th Grade boys team for two years.
"DJ has been a key component to our summer workouts," Howard said. "He is a poised and dependable young man, who brings coaching experience and athletic prowess to practice. He challenges our players daily and forces them to match his tenacious intensity on and off the court."
Allen and Waller join assistant coaches Josh Cooperwood, Coretta Brown and Chris Straker in filling out the staff for new head coach Anita Howard in her first season at the helm of the Eagles' program.
