Kendra Samuels-Eaton returned to Western Carolina to take on the role of Associate Head Coach in the spring of 2021.
She was a four-year letter-winner from 2005-09 and became the 22nd member of the 500-point club. She appeared in 117 games over four years and wrapped up her career with 721 points and 524 rebounds. In her senior season, Samuels-Eaton led the Catamounts to a SoCon Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth.
“One of the greatest ways to build a new culture and mindset to succeed in any organization is not to completely overhaul and to have the approach all was bad before a leadership change,” said Hill. “We must find those people or items that are truly special and unique and embrace them with open arms. As I truly assessed the history and people of Catamount women’s basketball and searched for pieces that we should stake a claim, an individual kept resurfacing over and over again – a person who was an integral part of a championship mindset and genuine influencer of greatness - this person is Kendra Eaton.”
Samuels-Eaton returns to Cullowhee after spending four seasons at UNC Pembroke. She was an assistant coach for three seasons before being promoted to Associate Head Coach in June 2020.
“First off, I would like to thank Coach Hill and everyone that was a part of the process of bringing me back to Cullowhee,” Samuels-Eaton said. “It’s very rare for a former student-athlete to come back home and coach at their alma mater and I’m so grateful for this opportunity. I look forward to not only working with the staff and student-athletes, but everyone on campus, the community, and our wonderful alumni. Coach Hill has a great thing going on here and I can’t wait to share his vision for the program and as well as help the team gets back to being a top contender in the Southern Conference.”
Before her stint at UNC Pembroke, Samuels-Eaton had a five-year stint on the sideline at North Carolina Central where she served as an assistant coach for three seasons before being promoted to associate head coach in September of 2015.
Samuels-Eaton also spent one year as the coordinator of basketball operations at Wake Forest. In this capacity, she handled the day-to-day operations of the team, including coordinating team travel, supervising non-coaching personnel, arranging community service activities, and assisting with on-campus recruiting. She also helped develop content for the Wake Forest women’s basketball recruiting website.
“When a position on our staff opened up this spring, Kendra was immediately someone I wanted to have a conversation with,” Hill said. “Having gotten to know her over the past year and a half as a former alumnus and current college coach, I began to learn more about her as a person beyond the game, I felt she was the perfect fit as we continue to build the program back to where she left it as a player a little over a decade ago.”
“I could not be more excited for our current players or future players as they will be mentored by such a difference-maker. Her impact on WCU Women’s Basketball and throughout the state of North Carolina has already been profound, however, her willingness to come back and help this program grow to where it should bespeak volumes to her character and love for WCU. She will keep me growing as well and be a loyal, true partner on our staff as our new Associate Head Coach. Kendra is a shining star in the profession and we are so fortunate that she has chosen to share her journey with us” Hill added.
Samuels-Eaton previously served two years in the academic support office at Western Carolina and worked as an intern in the women’s basketball office at the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) during the summer of 2009. While there, she helped facilitate the officiating camp and assisted with the ACC Tournament brochure.
Samuels-Eaton earned her bachelor’s degree in sport management with a concentration in athletic administration and professional sport with a minor in marketing and coaching from Western Carolina in 2009. She later earned a master’s degree in physical education and sport science from Central Missouri in 2011, where she specialized in athletics and sports business administration.
A Winston-Salem, North Carolina native, Samuels-Eaton tallied over 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds at Mount Tabor High School, where she was named the Metro 4A Player of the Year as a senior. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Inc. Eaton attended the 2014 NCAA Women’s Coaches Academy in Denver, Colorado, and most recently was invited and attended the 2017 NCAA/Women’s Leaders in College Sports Women’s Leadership Symposium.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT SAMUELS-EATON:
"Western Carolina and the Lady Catamount program will always hold a special place in my heart. There were so many people there who made that place special, and one of those people is Kendra Eaton. I am so happy to see Kendra join the staff at WCU. Her experience as a coach and her ability to relate to young student-athletes will be an asset to the program. She is a fantastic person, and she knows what it takes to win.”
Kellie Harper – Head Coach, University of Tennessee
“We are sad to see Kendra leave UNC Pembroke but I am excited for her as she embarks on this new opportunity at her alma mater. Kendra is an outstanding coach but above and beyond that she is an incredible person. She has worked tirelessly to help develop our program and the young ladies who are a part of it. I am excited for Kendra and I know she will do great things at Western Carolina”
John Haskins – Head Coach, UNC Pembroke
"Kendra Eaton is an absolutely great addition to the Western Carolina Catamounts. She will bring the same passion, focus, and competitive greatness to the job that she displayed when playing for the Catamounts. I've always had a great deal of respect for Coach Eaton because she's always strategic in her focus, highly ethical, and shows great compassion towards the young women that she has coached and mentored."
Vanessa Taylor – Associate Head Coach, Coastal Carolina
