By: Ella Clark, Coordinator - Communications & Creative Content
NASHVILLE — Tennessee State women's basketball head coach Candice Dupree has hired former South Carolina standout Ashley Bruner as an assistant coach for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Bruner joins the program after recent coaching stops at Langston, UNC Wilmington and Tuskegee.
"We are excited to welcome Coach Bruner to the Lady Tigers family," said Dupree. "Her elite-level playing career, global experience and ascending coaching résumé bring invaluable insight and leadership to our program. We believe she will play a key role in developing our players and elevating TSU women's basketball."
A graduate of South Carolina, Bruner played under Hall of Fame coach Dawn Staley from 2009 to 2013. As a senior, she averaged 10.3 points and 8.1 rebounds to earn All-SEC second team honors. She helped the Gamecocks reach the NCAA Tournament in 2012 and 2013 and the WNIT in 2011, highlighted by a Sweet 16 run in 2012.
Bruner went on to play professionally for eight years in Ecuador, France, Italy, Portugal, Puerto Rico and Spain. Her accolades included Portuguese League Champion and Player of the Year, EuroCup Player of the Year and Forward of the Year. She finished her career in France with Landerneau Bretagne Basket.
Following her playing career, Bruner began coaching at Tuskegee before spending the 2023–24 season as director of women's basketball operations at UNC Wilmington. In August 2024, she was promoted to associate head coach at Langston.