Stallworth Appointed Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach
4/16/2025 9:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Former WNBA Draft pick and Kentucky standout joins Head Coach Matthew Mitchell’s Staff
HOUSTON – DeNesha Stallworth, a former Kentucky standout and 2014 WNBA Draft pick, has been named an assistant coach for University of Houston Women's Basketball, Head Coach Matthew Mitchell announced Wednesday.
This marks the second professional reunion for Stallworth and Mitchell, who first worked together at Kentucky, where she played from 2012 to 2014 under Mitchell's leadership.
"I am proud to welcome DeNesha to our staff here at Houston," Mitchell said. "I had the privilege of coaching DeNesha as a player and I am thrilled to reconnect with her on our professional journey. She truly embodies the core values of The Winning Tools—honesty, hard work and discipline—and is equipped to pass those on to our current and future Coogs. Her experience, both on and off the court, will resonate deeply with our student-athletes. DeNesha values people and shares our vision for creating a culture of excellence."
Stallworth joins the Cougars after serving as an assistant coach at Boston College during the 2024-25 season, where the Eagles earned a bid to the WBIT.
Before her time at Boston College, Stallworth spent the 2023-24 season as an assistant coach at UC Santa Barbara. During her tenure with the Gauchos, she helped mentor Alexis Whitfield to All-Big West First Team honors and Alyssa Marin to All-Big 12 West Honorable Mention recognition.
Stallworth also spent three seasons on staff at Kentucky, working as a video coordinator. During that time, she helped the Wildcats win the 2022 SEC Tournament title and secure NCAA Tournament appearances in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.
The Richmond, Calif., native spent two seasons at Kentucky and finished her collegiate career with 1,740 points and 871 rebounds. She earned both WBCA All-Region and SEC All-Tournament selection.
Stallworth was part of a senior class that finished with a 109-31 mark and was an All-SEC Second Team member. She led the team in field goal percentage (.524), field goals made (151) and steals (44) as a senior while ranking second in scoring (12.5), rebounding (6.9) and blocked shots (35).
After being selected 25th overall in the 2014 WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun, Stallworth began her professional career overseas in Spain playing for Stadium Casablanca and Universitario de Ferrol. She also made stops in Australia (SEQ Basketball, Canberra Capitals), Poland (TS Wisla Krakow, Artego Bydgiozcz and CCC Polkowice) and Russia (Sparta&K MR).
Stallworth graduated from Kentucky in December 2013 with a degree in family sciences and a minor in African-American studies. She was a two-time member of the SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll and the Dean's list. She was named a McDonald's All-American in 2009 as one of the top recruits in the country.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Women's Basketball by supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective – and joining the Fast Break Club which provides support directly to Houston Women's Basketball for needs beyond its operating budget.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarWBB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarWBB or on the team's Instagram page at @UHCougarWBB.
This marks the second professional reunion for Stallworth and Mitchell, who first worked together at Kentucky, where she played from 2012 to 2014 under Mitchell's leadership.
"I am proud to welcome DeNesha to our staff here at Houston," Mitchell said. "I had the privilege of coaching DeNesha as a player and I am thrilled to reconnect with her on our professional journey. She truly embodies the core values of The Winning Tools—honesty, hard work and discipline—and is equipped to pass those on to our current and future Coogs. Her experience, both on and off the court, will resonate deeply with our student-athletes. DeNesha values people and shares our vision for creating a culture of excellence."
Stallworth joins the Cougars after serving as an assistant coach at Boston College during the 2024-25 season, where the Eagles earned a bid to the WBIT.
Before her time at Boston College, Stallworth spent the 2023-24 season as an assistant coach at UC Santa Barbara. During her tenure with the Gauchos, she helped mentor Alexis Whitfield to All-Big West First Team honors and Alyssa Marin to All-Big 12 West Honorable Mention recognition.
Stallworth also spent three seasons on staff at Kentucky, working as a video coordinator. During that time, she helped the Wildcats win the 2022 SEC Tournament title and secure NCAA Tournament appearances in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.
The Richmond, Calif., native spent two seasons at Kentucky and finished her collegiate career with 1,740 points and 871 rebounds. She earned both WBCA All-Region and SEC All-Tournament selection.
Stallworth was part of a senior class that finished with a 109-31 mark and was an All-SEC Second Team member. She led the team in field goal percentage (.524), field goals made (151) and steals (44) as a senior while ranking second in scoring (12.5), rebounding (6.9) and blocked shots (35).
After being selected 25th overall in the 2014 WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun, Stallworth began her professional career overseas in Spain playing for Stadium Casablanca and Universitario de Ferrol. She also made stops in Australia (SEQ Basketball, Canberra Capitals), Poland (TS Wisla Krakow, Artego Bydgiozcz and CCC Polkowice) and Russia (Sparta&K MR).
Stallworth graduated from Kentucky in December 2013 with a degree in family sciences and a minor in African-American studies. She was a two-time member of the SEC Winter Academic Honor Roll and the Dean's list. She was named a McDonald's All-American in 2009 as one of the top recruits in the country.
SUPPORT YOUR COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Women's Basketball by supporting LinkingCoogs – UH's very own NIL collective – and joining the Fast Break Club which provides support directly to Houston Women's Basketball for needs beyond its operating budget.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarWBB on X, formerly known as Twitter, and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarWBB or on the team's Instagram page at @UHCougarWBB.
– UHCougars.com –
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