Elaine Powell is in her first season with the Georgia Southern women's basketball program as an assistant coach for 2022-23.
Powell brings a wealth of experience to Statesboro, both in the coaching ranks and because of her long and distinguished playing career “Powell is going to be a player’s coach,” said Head Coach Semeka Randall of Winthrop University. “The student athletes will be able to relate to her because of all the things she did as a player. She’s going to add a wealth of knowledge because she’s played at the highest level and has significant coaching experience.”
She began her collegiate playing career as a freshman at Pearl River Community college, where she averaged 27.5 points per games, leading in the nation. She was all-State, all-Region and a NJCAA first-team All-American that season. She scored more than 40 points in three games, more than 30 points in eight games and averaged 10 rebounds a game while shooting 50% from the floor. Powell scored 1,927 points in her two years at PRCC, helping the team win a state championship, a regional championship, and earn berths in the NJCAA National Championships. In her two seasons, the team compiled an impressive 52-13 overall record.
After her career at Pearl River, Powell joined LSU and helped put the Lady Tigers on the national map, leading the team to its first NCAA tournament and Sweet 16 berth in five seasons during the 1996-1997 campaign with a 25-5 overall record. Powell averaged 19.1 points per game and shot 48% from the field during her two years at LSU, twice earning All-SEC honors.
Elaine was the first player in LSU history drafted by the WNBA as the Orlando Miracle selected her in the fourth round of the 1999 draft. She spent 3 1/2 seasons in Orlando before joining the Detroit Shock midway through the 2002 season. As a member of the Shock, Powell became a valuable part of the team by leading Detroit to three WNBA World Championships in 2003, 2006 and 2008. Off the court, Powell made her presence felt in the community as she was awarded the 2002-2003 WNBA off-season Community Assist Award for extensive community outreach.
Powell began her coaching career begin at Grambling State in 2008, coming off of her final WNBA championship with the Shock. As an assistant coach at Grambling for four years, Powell assisted in player development for the Tigers. From there, she joined former WNBA and University of Tennessee legend Semeka Randall at Ohio University in 2012 and Alabama A&M University in 2013. Powell served as player development for guards and recruiting coordinator for the next three years at Alabama A&M.
In 2016 Powell received her first head coaching job at Langston University, leading the team to the SAC Conference Championship game and NAIA National Tournament in 2021. During her six-year stint with Langston she coached the Lions' first women’s basketball player to receive an WNBA training camp contract in Asheika Alexander. She also had numerous athletes earn first and second team All-Conference honors.
Powell is the daughter of James and Merlene Powell. She has three siblings; a sister, Karen, and two brothers, Curtis and Cedric. Powell graduated from Carroll High School in Monroe, La in 1993 and graduated from LSU with her bachelor's degree in kinesiology and exercise science in 2000.
