Nitra Perry as named Associate Head Coach for LA Tech Women’s Basketball

RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech Women’s Basketball head coach Brooke Stoehr announced Thursday that Nitra Perry has joined the Lady Techsters’ staff as the associate head coach.

Perry brings 17 years of collegiate coaching experience to Ruston after her most recent stop as an assistant coach for the last two seasons at West Virginia (2020-2022). Perry also served as the Mountaineers interim head coach following the 2022 season after Mike Carey retired after 21 seasons in Morgantown.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Nitra to the Lady Techsters’ family,” said Stoehr. “Nitra has competed at a high level as an athlete and coach. Her passion for the development of young people and building relationships through the game of basketball will be a tremendous addition for our staff.”

“Nitra’s years of experience as an assistant and head coach will be invaluable to our staff and players as we continue to compete for championships with this group. We are fortunate to add a person and coach of Nitra’s caliber to our staff. She understands the expectations and standards we have at Louisiana Tech and will be a wonderful addition to Ruston and our campus community.”

Perry’s impact at West Virginia was immediate, helping lead the Mountaineers to a 22-7 mark in her first season that included a Big XII Tournament title game appearance and a spot in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. Perry worked closely alongside multiple Big XII honorees, including the WNBA’s fourth overall selection and All-American, Kysre Gondrezick.

“I am extremely honored to be a part of a program with such a rich history alongside Brooke and her staff,” said Perry. “Brooke’s love for Tech and desire to mentor, impact, and win was evident from our very first conversation. She is transparent, competitive, and most importantly authentic. The trajectory of the program is exciting. I feel blessed to call LA Tech my new home and family.”

Before she arrived in Morgantown, Perry served as the associate head coach at Toledo from 2018-2020, where she worked with all aspects of the program, including perimeter-player development, recruiting, academic support, and opponent scouting.

During her time at Toledo, Perry helped the Rockets amass a 131-69 overall record and a 68-32 mark in the Mid-American Conference. Toledo posted four 20-win campaigns during her six seasons with the team, winning three MAC West Division titles and earning four Postseason WNIT berths.

In a previous stint with Toledo from 2008-2012, Perry proved instrumental in signing the MAC’s top-rated recruiting class in 2011 while also capturing the 2011 WNIT Championship after posting a school-record 29 wins while directly working with WNIT MVP Naama Shafir.

In between her two stints with the Rockets, she served as an assistant coach at Memphis during the 2016-2018 seasons, where she mentored and trained two-time All-American Cheyenne Creighton and four seasons as the head coach at Kennesaw State (2012-2016).

In 2014-15, Perry guided Kennesaw State to their most-successful season (17-13 record) since the Owls moved to the NCAA Division I level in 2005-06 and became a full Division I member in 2009-10.

KSU tied for fourth place in the 2014-15 Atlantic Sun Conference regular-season standings, marking the program’s best league finish at the time. Perry also coached her first postseason award recipient, with Jasmine McAllister earning A-Sun Newcomer of the Year honors.

Before her first stint with Toledo, Perry spent two seasons at her alma mater Mississippi State as an assistant coach, where she was responsible for player development, practice preparation, assisting with recruitment, and overseeing academics. While with the Bulldogs, she helped mentor All-Southeastern Conference Freshman performers Alexis Rack and Mary Kathryn Govero.

Perry returned to her alma mater after serving as an administrative assistant to the recruiting coordinator with Georgia Tech for three seasons (2004-06), where she assisted with the summer camps.

A native of Bolivar, Tennessee, Perry was a four-year letter-winner for Mississippi State (1996-2000) and was a two-time All-SEC honorable mention pick in 1999 and 2000. She also earned SEC All-Tournament Team and SEC Academic Honor Roll accolades in 2000. She still ranks in the top 20 on the Bulldogs’ career charts in scoring (19th; 1,124) and rebounding (8th; 746). She also helped lead MSU to three-straight postseason appearances, including two NCAA Tournaments. The 1999-2000 squad won 24 games and advanced to the SEC Tournament Championship Game.

Before her coaching career began, Perry played professional basketball overseas (2001 in Portugal; 2002 in Italy) and in the United States (2003-04 with NWBL’s Birmingham Power). She earned her bachelor’s in education from Mississippi State in 2000. The daughter of Kirk and Constance Perry, she has one brother, Kirk Jr., and one sister, Afton.