After two seasons as an assistant coach “On The Banks," Nneka Enemkpali will now serve as the team's Chief of Staff starting in the 2025-26 season.
In this new role, Enemkpali will helm administrative operations for the program as the team’s primary liaison to internal support units for athletics including compliance, the R Fund, the alumni office, ticketing services, and the offices of the Chancellor and President. In addition, Enemkpali will work closely with Washington concerning matters related to revenue sharing and NIL management.
Enemkpali will also work with external units, collaborating with marketing, sports information and brand advancement on social media and communications initiatives.
She will facilitate strategic community engagement opportunities for the program, while also serving as liaison to season ticketholders and the women's basketball booster club, The Cagers Club.
Enemkpali brought new energy and ideas during her first slate in Piscataway. The team celebrated its 50th season in program history, highlighting historic moments, players and coaches throughout the year, which culminated in a grand celebration for Alumni Weekend. RU also inducted its inaugural Knights of Honor class in the 1982, 2000 and 2007 teams with banner is Jersey Mike's Arena.
The squad earned its sixth advance sellout in program history and first since 2006, against Iowa, which became the most attended basketball game between men's and women's contests of the entire 2023-24 campaign.
Under Enemkpali's guidance, Destiny Adams had a breakout year in her first campaign "On The Banks." The transfer led active players on the team in multiple statistical categories while also ranking in the conference. She earned All-Big Ten Second Team (Coaches) honors and an Honorable Mention (Media). In addition, Adams set the Big Ten Tournament single game rebounding record with 24 boards in the opening round.
Before joining head coach Coquese Washington's staff "On The Banks" Enemkpali spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Southern California while also serving as the recruiting coordinator during the 2022-23 slate.
While with the Trojans, Enemkpali brought in historic talent proving her prowess as an elite recruiter. In just her first year in the role of Recruiting Coordinator, Enemkpali led efforts to sign the No. 1 prospect in the 2023 class.
She also helped USC make strides on the court as she coached the 29th overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft, Kadi Sissoko, to all All-Pac 12 honors. In addition, last season, Enemkpali guided Rayah Marshall to All-PAC 12 and All-Defense honors as a sophomore. She went on to be selected to represent USA at the 2023 Americup games.
To end the 2022-23 campaign, Enemkpali helped Southern California to capture a No. 8 seed in its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014.
Enemkpali spent the 2020-21 season as an assistant at UNLV after two seasons in that role at UC Santa Barbara, where she oversaw skill development of the post players, helping develop Ila Lane to the nation's No. 1 rebounder and Big West Freshman of the Year honors in 2019-20 for the Gauchos. With the Rebels, she also guided Desi Rae young to Mountain West Freshman of the Year.
That year, Enemkpali herself earned accolades as one of the 50 Impactful Assistants in D1 Women's Basketball named by Silver Waves Media.
Prior to UC Santa Barbara, Enemkpali served two seasons as a video coordinator at Gonzaga. In those years, the Bulldogs went 53-13 overall and won two West Coast Conference titles to make NCAA appearances in 2017 and 2018.
Enemkpali is a 2015 graduate of Texas, where she averaged 10.0 points and 8.0 rebounds over her four years, earning three All-Big 12 selections and finishing ranked No. 10 all-time in career rebounds (899) and No. 30 in career points (1,116). She also was a three-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree as a Longhorn and was recognized as a Senior CLASS Award Second Team All-American for excellence in the community, classroom, character and competition.
After completing her degree in African American and African Diaspora Studies at Texas, Enemkpali was drafted 26th overall in the 2015 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm, although her playing career was cut short and ended by a knee injury.
A native of Pflugerville, Texas, she attended Pflugerville High School.
