June 15, 2006
ORLANDO - UCF head women's basketball coach Gail Striegler announced the hiring of Saudia Roundtree as an assistant coach on Thursday. Roundtree, who was the 1996 National Player of the year, is scheduled to begin her new post on June 16.
Roundtree joins the Golden Knight staff after spending last season at Alabama, where she was responsible for coaching the Crimson Tide backcourt in addition to scheduling and scouting.
"We're excited to add someone with Saudia's level of playing and coaching experience to our staff," said Striegler. "She brings an impressive background from the Southeastern Conference and professional ranks as well as recruiting ties in new areas the Southeast region."
Prior to her position at Alabama, Roundtree served as head coach at North Carolina A&T from 2002-05. She began her coaching career in 2001-02 at Morris Brown College, where she started as assistant coach, and then became interim head coach.
Before becoming a coach, Roundtree enjoyed a successful three-year career in the professional ranks. Picked first overall in the American Basketball League (ABL) draft, she played for both the Atlanta Glory and Nashville Noise and was selected to the ABL All-Star Team.
Roundtree was a standout on the Georgia women's basketball team from 1994-96. She received the Boost Naismith Player of the Year award and Kodak First Team All-America recognition as she helped lead the Bulldogs to the 1996 NCAA Tournament championship game. That season, she averaged 16.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game and earned SEC Player of the Year honors. Roundtree is the only two-year player in Georgia history to score more than 1,000 points in her career.
She was also named the National Junior College Player of the Year at Kilgore Junior College.
Roundtree holds a bachelor's degree in sociology from Georgia.