COACHING RESPONSIBILITY: Associate Head Coach
YEAR AT LOUISVILLE: 12th
BIRTHDAY: April 14
EDUCATION: Bachelor's Degree (Arizona State, '89); Master's Degree (Hawaii, '92)
HOMETOWN: Florence, Ore.
FAMILY: Husband - Geoff; Son - Parker; Daughter - Cassidy

ATHLETIC CAREER

• Four-year letterwinner at Arizona State, serving as the Sun Devils' captain during junior and senior seasons

• Earned Pac-10 All-Academic honors in consecutive years (1987-88)

COLLEGIATE COACHING CAREER
2012-Present: Louisville (associate head coach)
2007-12: Louisville (assistant coach)
2002-07: Vanderbilt (assistant coach)
2000-02: Oregon State (assistant coach)
1992-99: Oregon (assistant coach)
1991-92: Hawaii (graduate assistant coach)
1990-91: British Columbia (assistant coach)

COACHING HIGHLIGHTS

LOUISVILLE

• Has aided Louisville to nine Sweet 16 appearances, five Elite Eight appearances, three Final Four appearances, including a pair of national championship contests
• Served on the Cardinals' staff since the hiring of head coach Jeff Walz, helping Louisville to an average of 27.6 wins per season - or 331 since the 2007 season
• Helped lead Cardinals to 32-4 record and its second straight ACC regular season championship in 2018-19, which marked the first time in program history that Louisville has won back-to-back regular season conference titles. Advanced to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive season.
• Helped produce a program-best 36-3 record in 2017-18 as Louisville reached its third Final Four. Reached as high as No. 2 in Associated Press poll, which marked highest rating in school history. Opened season with a 20-0 record, which marked best start and longest winning streak in program history. 
• Helped develop nine of Louisville's WNBA Draft picks, including first-round picks Angel McCoughtry (2009) and Shoni Schimmel (2014) and Asia Durr (2019).
• Is instrumental in the recruiting efforts, inking the No. 1 class of 2015 that featured three McDonald’s All-Americans; helped pen the No. 6 freshman class in 2016 and the No. 4 class in 2017; aided in signing the 12th-best recruiting class in 2008, followed by three-consecutive top 10 classes (2009, 2010 and 2011); the 2010 class was tabbed as No. 5 nationally, the highest at the time in school history

VANDERBILT

• Helped establish the No. 1 recruiting class in 2003, which produced the No. 10 and No. 14 picks in the 2007 WNBA Draft; it was two of six WNBA Draft picks during tenure at school
• Assisted with the Commodores earning five-consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament, including a pair of Sweet 16 appearances
• Accelerated the Commodores to a pair of SEC Tournament titles and a top-25 ranking all five seasons

OREGON STATE

• Played a pivotal role in the Beavers making their first postseason appearance in four years, earning a bid to the 1996 Women's National Invitational Tournament
• Produced the Pac-10 Player of the Year, who also was a two-time All-American; shortly after was selected in the WNBA Draft

OREGON

• Helped guide the Ducks to one of their most successful spans; the program compiled a 122-69 record, including six consecutive NCAA Tournament appearancesAided in the program capturing a share of the 1998-99 Pac-10 regular-season title
• Oversaw the development of the 1999 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, who earned All-America honors that same season
• During tenure, helped mold two WNBA Draft picks and one ABL Draft pick

HAWAII

• Served as a graduate assistant on staff for two years, helping lead the program to a runner-up finish in the 1992 WNIT; the school achieved a pair of conference championships in that two-year span

BRITISH COLUMBIA

• Directed the program to the No. 6 national ranking and a trip to the regional playoffs

COACHING RESPONSIBILITY: Associate Coach
YEAR AT LOUISVILLE: 7th
BIRTHDAY: October 5
EDUCATION: Bachelor's Degree (Auburn, '03)
HOMETOWN: Dalton, Ga.
FAMILY: Wife - Meghan; Daughters – Reese, Rylee, Reagan

ATHLETIC CAREER
Two-year letterman on the men’s basketball team at Southern Union State Community College

COLLEGIATE COACHING CAREER 
2017-19: Louisville (associate coach)
2013-17: Louisville (assistant coach)
2009-13: Georgia Tech (assistant coach)
2007-09: Georgia Tech (video coordinator)
2005-07: Tulsa (assistant coach)
2003-05: Auburn (video coordinator/administrative assistant)
2000-03: Auburn (student coach)

COACHING HIGHLIGHTS

Once listed as one of the Top 30 up-and-coming women’s basketball coaches in the country by High Post Hoops, Sam Purcell is a rising star in the coaching world. The Dalton, Ga., native has spent the past 17 years climbing the ranks from a student coach at Auburn all the way to an associate coach at Louisville, one of the top programs in the country.
 
During his journey, Purcell has worked under some of the greatest minds in women’s basketball, including Jeff Walz, the current Louisville head coach and USA Basketball U-20 head coach, Nell Fortner, the former Auburn head coach and current Georgia Tech head coach and 1996 Olympic head coach and Joe Ciampi, the former Auburn head coach for 25 seasons and 2005 Hall of Fame inductee.
 
In what is already a decorated career, Purcell has been a part of 13 teams that have participated in postseason play. His teams have advanced to the NCAA Tournament 11 times, making one appearance in the Final Four, two in the Elite Eight, four in the Sweet 16, and he was also a part of a WNIT Championship.
 
In 17 years, his teams have combined to post a 416-181 (.697) record, while posting 11 20-win seasons and three 30-win seasons. He has helped lead his teams to three regular season conference championships and two conference tournament championships.
 
The 2018-19 season is Purcell’s sixth at the University of Louisville. He served his first four seasons as an assistant coach and was promoted to associate coach by Walz prior to the start of the 2017-18 campaign.
 
Although a lot of his work is done behind the scenes, Purcell has played a pivotal role in the success of the Cardinals. His game scouts are as descriptive and detailed as there are in the country and they have helped Louisville defeat some of the best teams in women’s basketball, including Stanford, UConn, Notre Dame, LSU, Oregon, Oregon State, Duke, and North Carolina.
 
In addition to his meticulous game scouts, Purcell also focuses much of his time with game planning, player development and recruiting. He also prides himself on his ability to develop relationships with his players. He understands the importance of being there for a student-athlete whenever his guidance is needed to ensure them that they are successful in the classroom, as well as the basketball court.
 
In his six-plus seasons on Walz’s staff, Purcell has helped lead the Cardinals to an impressive 183-35 (.839) record, which is the best six-year stretch in program history. He has helped guide the Cardinals to a Final Four appearance in 2018, an elite eight in 2014 and 2019 and five trips to the Sweet 16.
 
He played a critical role in guiding Louisville to a program-best 36-3 record in 2017-18. That season, the Cardinals opened the year with a 20-0 record, which marked the best start in program history, and following a 100-67 win over Notre Dame, they moved up to No. 2 in the Associated Press poll, which marks the highest rating in program history. Louisville won both the ACC regular season and conference championships, and then in four NCAA Tournament games, they defeated opponents by an average of 27.5 points to advance to the program’s third Final Four.
 
In addition to team accomplishments, Purcell has had success coaching both guards and post players.
 
At Tulsa, he played an integral role in developing post player Jillian Robbins, who went on to attain All-America honorable mention accolades, along with being named Conference USA Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.
 
At Georgia Tech, he worked closely with guards and had several players earn postseason accolades. Alex Montgomery was named All-ACC First Team, Sixth Player of the Year, ACC All-Defensive Team, and was then the 10^th pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft. Tyaunna Marshall was named Associated Press and WBCA All-American honorable mention, All-ACC First Team, ACC All-Defensive Team, ACC All-Freshman Team and Third Team Freshman All-American by the Full Court Press.
 
While at Louisville, his focus has been on guard play and he had tremendous success with Shoni Schimmel during her senior year. She earned several All-American honors and was the eighth overall pick by the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA Draft. He also worked closely with Asia Durr, the second overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft by the New York Liberty, who was named WBCA All-American as a junior and a senior and twice was named ACC Player of the Year.
 
Purcell has shown the ability to recruit across the globe and has a remarkable talent to connect with elite prospects. On two occasions, with two different teams, he has helped programs land the top recruit in the country. Most recently, it was Durr, who committed to Louisville in 2015, and Kaela Davis signed with Georgia Tech in 2013.
 
All six signing classes that Purcell has helped recruit at Louisville have been ranked in the top 15 by ESPN, including the No. 1 class in 2015, No. 4 class in 2017, No. 6 class in 2016 and No. 8 class in 2014.

He was elected to serve on the 2019-2020 WBCA Assistant Coaches Committee.
 
Purcell has a passion for giving back, volunteering in the community and speaking at numerous events, including the FCA and fundraising efforts. He also enjoys sharing his experiences and giving advice to young coaches at the WBCA roundtable at the Final Four.
 
Purcell is a graduate of Auburn University, 2003.
 
He and his wife, Meghan, have three daughters, Reese, Rylee, and Reagan.

COACHING RESPONSIBILITY: Assistant Coach
YEAR AT LOUISVILLE: 1st
EDUCATION: Bachelor's Degree (Georgia Southwestern State, '11), Master's Degree (America Public University, '17)
HOMETOWN: Atlanta, Ga.

ATHLETIC CAREER
Played at Georgia Southwestern State University, where she received the Peach Belt Conference Scholar Athlete award in 2010, served as team captain, and was named to the Athletic Director Honor Roll and Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll.

COLLEGIATE COACHING CAREER 
2013-19: Georgia Tech (assistant coach, video coordinator, graduate manager)

COACHING HIGHLIGHTS

Prior to joining the staff at Louisville, Pineda spent six seasons at Georgia Tech, serving the final two seasons as an assistant coach. In her six seasons, she helped lead the Yellow Jackets to five 20-win seasons, one NCAA Tournament appearance, four appearances in the WNIT, including a trip to the 2017 WNIT championship.

In 2017-18, her first season as an assistant coach, she helped lead Georgia Tech to a 20-14 record and an appearance in the WNIT quarterfinals. She also assisted in recruiting the 2018 signing class which ranked No. 10 in the nation.

Prior to being promoted to assistant coach, Pineda spent the 2013-14 season as video coordinator intern at Georgia Tech. That season, the Yellow Jackets went 21-12 and played in the NCAA Tournament.

In 2014-15, she served as an assistant coach with the FBC Southeast Elite basketball program, where she helped develop some of the best players in the country.

Pineda completed master’s work from America Public University in June 2017, receiving a master’s of sports administration.

She played basketball, while earning a bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in marketing from Georgia Southwestern State University in 2011. While a Lady Hurricane, Pineda received the Peach Belt Conference Scholar Athlete award in 2010, served as team captain, and was named to the Athletic Director Honor Roll and Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll.

She also participated in the 2010-11 “So You Want To Be A Coach” program.

Kate Tucker, entering her 12th year at the University of Louisville, is in her sixth season as the women's basketball director of operations. She is primarily tasked with coordinating the team's travel and equipment needs in addition to team camps.

Tucker joined the Cardinals' staff after serving four years in the compliance office as the compliance coordinator. Tucker primarily assisted Louisville's student-athletes with financial aid needs in addition to coordinating all of their housing arrangements.

While with the compliance office, she oversaw the student-athlete opportunity fund, which includes insurance needs for student-athletes, along with monitoring student-athlete employment. The staff sponsor for SAAC (student-athlete advisory committee), Tucker's job also encompassed assisting with game-day operations, helping with rules education and interpretations

Prior to that position, Tucker worked from 2009-11 in the athletic ticket office, where she managed student tickets for football and men's and women's basketball. On game days, she assisted with ticket management.

Tucker first started working in Louisville athletics while in graduate school. She spent one year in the Cardinal Athletic Fund, the department's development arm, aiding with special events and annual fund events.

A Shelbyville, Ky., native, Tucker was a three-year letterwinner on the women's tennis team at Georgetown College. She was elected team captain as a junior and earned a spot on the all-conference academic team. She also was a member of the Sigma Kappa sorority.

Tucker, who resides in Shelbyville, graduated from Georgetown cum laude in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in communication. She earned her master's degree from Louisville in sport administration two years later in 2009. She is married to Jeremy Tucker and they have one son, Joseph David (JD).

Adrienne Johnson is in her 14th year at the University of Louisville and her sixth season as the women's basketball program's executive director for player relations.

Johnson is involved in numerous facets within the program. She works as the liaison between the coaching staff and academic support system, helping set semester goals for each student-athlete and oversee player and professional development, facilitating learning opportunities that include guest speakers to further educate student-athletes on subjects they will encounter beyond college.

In addition to these areas, she has been critical to the fundraising endeavors for the program.

Johnson also assists with on-campus recruiting, community service and marketing efforts, while serving as the analyst for the Louisville women's basketball radio broadcasts.

Previously, Johnson served as women's basketball's and the athletic department's outreach coordinator for five years before overtaking the position of executive director of operations for the women's basketball team.

A Louisville native, Johnson came to Louisville after playing for eight seasons in the WNBA. She began her WNBA career during the league's inaugural year with the Cleveland Rockers in 1997 before being taken eighth overall by the Orlando Miracle in the 1999 expansion draft.

Johnson spent four seasons with the Miracle franchise before they moved to Connecticut in January of 2003 to become the Connecticut Sun. She played for the Sun for two seasons and then signed as a free agent with the Seattle Storm in March of 2005.

Johnson starred 181 games in her WNBA career with 38 starts. She totaled 1,018 points, 292 rebounds, 132 assists, and 73 steals. She also earned the WNBA's first Hometown Hero Award for her community service during the 2000 offseason.

A 1997 Ohio State graduate, she earned her bachelor's degree in exercise physiology. Johnson recorded more than 1,000 points in her collegiate career, averaging 13.0 points and 3.1 assists in her senior campaign. The Butler High graduate earned all-Big Ten honors as a senior with the Buckeyes.