Women's Basketball Adds Jerise Freeman To 2021-22 Staff
SALT LAKE CITY – University of Utah Women's Basketball head coach Lynne Roberts announced the addition of Jerise Freeman to the staff today with Freeman being named assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Utes.
Freeman, who was an All-Big West performer under Roberts at Pacific from 2006-07, comes to Utah after spending the last four seasons at Oklahoma State.
"I have known Jerise since 2006, when I got the chance to coach her during her senior season, which was my first year at Pacific," Roberts said. "She was fun to coach – competitive, enthusiastic and fun to be around. The best part about Jerise joining our Utah program is that she is still all of those things and more."
"She has a wealth of experience coaching at every collegiate level, and has grown so much in the profession. She has proven herself to be an incredible recruiter, coach, and impactor of young people at now the highest level in college basketball. I'm so happy to have her join our Utah family – she makes our program better."
During her time at Oklahoma State, the Cowgirls earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament twice (2017-18, 2020-21), advancing to the second round both times. In her four seasons in Stillwater, five players earned All-America honors with two being drafted by the WNBA.
"I am very excited about this new opportunity," Freeman said. "I have known Coach Roberts for a long time, and have always respected and thought very highly of her as a person and a coach. She has built something very special here, and I am blessed to be a part of it and build on it. I look forward to developing our current players and bringing the best and brightest to this Utah community."
Prior to her time with the Cowgirls, Freeman spent three seasons as an assistant at Eastern Washington where the Eagles posted a 19-14 mark in her final season, reaching the semifinals of the Women's Basketball Invitational.
She also spent two seasons at Newman University in her hometown of Wichita, Kan., where she oversaw academics and summer camps along with scouting after spending the 2011-12 season as the director of operations at Missouri State.
Freeman got her full-time start in collegiate coaching in 2008 when she was an assistant at Butler Community College for three seasons.
Her playing days started at Seward County Community College where she helped the Lady Saints to a 67-8 record during her two seasons. Freeman earned a bachelor's degree in sociology with a focus in criminal justice in May of 2007 from Pacific after averaging 13.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game her senior season.