Eastern Michigan Athletics
EMU Names Candice Finley Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach
5/15/2012 3:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
New assistant spent four years on the Eastern Kentucky University women’s basketball staff
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Candice Finley, an assistant women's basketball coach at Eastern Kentucky University for the past four seasons, has been named an assistant women's basketball coach at Eastern Michigan University, new Head Coach Tory Verdi announced today, May 15, 2012.
“She brings an unbelievable amount of energy to our staff and I know she will immediately make an impact in the state in regards to recruiting,” said Verdi. “Her connections and ties to the state will open so many doors for Eastern.”
Her duties as an assistant at EMU include being the recruiting coordinator and the post coach.
The 33-year-old Finley is a 2002 graduate of EKU where she was a three-year starter while playing for the Lady Colonels from 1997-01.
Finley was part of a staff that was charged with rebuilding her alma mater in the ultra competitive Ohio Valley Conference. While in Richmond, Ky., she was responsible for overseeing academics, organizing community service projects and working with the team's post players.
Finley began her collegiate coaching career when she joined Southern Connecticut State University for the 2007-08 season. Finley helped SCSU continue its winning tradition, as the team posted the program's seventh straight winning season.
Before embarking on a collegiate coaching career, Finley spent two seasons as the assistant girls basketball coach and two years as the head girls basketball coach at Romulus High School in Romulus, Mich. She helped lead Romulus to a Mega White Division championship in 2004 and a pair of district titles in 2004 and 2007. In 2007, Finley was named Downriver Coach of the Year.
She also served as a coach with the Michigan Crossover AAU/Nike Travel Team program from 2002 to 2007. She helped the team win two Michigan AAU state titles.
After earning a bachelor's degree from EKU in 2002, Finley played professionally in Luxembourg for a season before returning to serve as an assistant at Romulus H.S.
Finley was a three-year starter for the Lady Colonels from 1997 to 2001. She concluded her career with more than 1,000 points, nearly 500 rebounds and more than 100 steals. She earned second team all-conference honors after leading Eastern in scoring (13 ppg) and rebounding (5.5 rpg) her senior season. She finished her collegiate career having made 45.4 percent of her shots from the field. She stands 19th on EKU's all-time scoring list.
In addition to her 1998 OVC regular-season championship, the Detroit, Mich., native won three state titles as a player at Bishop Borgess High School.
THE CANDICE FINLEY FILE
Full Name: Candice Monique Finley
Born: May 21, 1979 (Detroit, Mich.)
High School: Bishop Borgess (Detroit, Mich.)
College: Eastern Kentucky University (Graduated in 2002 -bachelor's in apparel design & merchandising)
Coaching/Playing Experience
YEAR SCHOOL JOB TITLE RECORD
2011-12 Eastern Kentucky University Assistant Coach 13-16; 7-9 OVC
2010-11 Eastern Kentucky University Assistant Coach 6-21; 3-15 OVC
2009-10 Eastern Kentucky University Assistant Coach 12-17; 8-10 OVC
2008-09 Eastern Kentucky University Assistant Coach 7-20; 4-14 OVC
2007-08 Southern Connecticut State Univ. Assistant Coach 15-14; 10-12 NE-10
2006-07 Romulus (Mich.) High School Head Girls Coach
2005-06 Romulus (Mich.) High School Head Girls Coach
2004-05 Romulus (Mich.) High School Assistant Girls Coach
2003-04 Romulus (Mich.) High School Assistant Girls Coach
2001-02 Luxembourg Racing Professional Player
1997-01 Eastern Kentucky University Student-Athlete 1998 OVC Champs
“She brings an unbelievable amount of energy to our staff and I know she will immediately make an impact in the state in regards to recruiting,” said Verdi. “Her connections and ties to the state will open so many doors for Eastern.”
Her duties as an assistant at EMU include being the recruiting coordinator and the post coach.
The 33-year-old Finley is a 2002 graduate of EKU where she was a three-year starter while playing for the Lady Colonels from 1997-01.
Finley was part of a staff that was charged with rebuilding her alma mater in the ultra competitive Ohio Valley Conference. While in Richmond, Ky., she was responsible for overseeing academics, organizing community service projects and working with the team's post players.
Finley began her collegiate coaching career when she joined Southern Connecticut State University for the 2007-08 season. Finley helped SCSU continue its winning tradition, as the team posted the program's seventh straight winning season.
Before embarking on a collegiate coaching career, Finley spent two seasons as the assistant girls basketball coach and two years as the head girls basketball coach at Romulus High School in Romulus, Mich. She helped lead Romulus to a Mega White Division championship in 2004 and a pair of district titles in 2004 and 2007. In 2007, Finley was named Downriver Coach of the Year.
She also served as a coach with the Michigan Crossover AAU/Nike Travel Team program from 2002 to 2007. She helped the team win two Michigan AAU state titles.
After earning a bachelor's degree from EKU in 2002, Finley played professionally in Luxembourg for a season before returning to serve as an assistant at Romulus H.S.
Finley was a three-year starter for the Lady Colonels from 1997 to 2001. She concluded her career with more than 1,000 points, nearly 500 rebounds and more than 100 steals. She earned second team all-conference honors after leading Eastern in scoring (13 ppg) and rebounding (5.5 rpg) her senior season. She finished her collegiate career having made 45.4 percent of her shots from the field. She stands 19th on EKU's all-time scoring list.
In addition to her 1998 OVC regular-season championship, the Detroit, Mich., native won three state titles as a player at Bishop Borgess High School.
THE CANDICE FINLEY FILE
Full Name: Candice Monique Finley
Born: May 21, 1979 (Detroit, Mich.)
High School: Bishop Borgess (Detroit, Mich.)
College: Eastern Kentucky University (Graduated in 2002 -bachelor's in apparel design & merchandising)
Coaching/Playing Experience
YEAR SCHOOL JOB TITLE RECORD
2011-12 Eastern Kentucky University Assistant Coach 13-16; 7-9 OVC
2010-11 Eastern Kentucky University Assistant Coach 6-21; 3-15 OVC
2009-10 Eastern Kentucky University Assistant Coach 12-17; 8-10 OVC
2008-09 Eastern Kentucky University Assistant Coach 7-20; 4-14 OVC
2007-08 Southern Connecticut State Univ. Assistant Coach 15-14; 10-12 NE-10
2006-07 Romulus (Mich.) High School Head Girls Coach
2005-06 Romulus (Mich.) High School Head Girls Coach
2004-05 Romulus (Mich.) High School Assistant Girls Coach
2003-04 Romulus (Mich.) High School Assistant Girls Coach
2001-02 Luxembourg Racing Professional Player
1997-01 Eastern Kentucky University Student-Athlete 1998 OVC Champs
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