Collen Announces Cummings as First Hire to Baylor WBB Coaching Staff

[Robarts, Kyle]

BAYLOR ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS – May 12, 2021

Collen Announces Cummings as First Hire to Baylor WBB Coaching Staff
Collen reunites with Cummings after previous stint in Arkansas
For more information contact: Kyle Robarts, 254-405-9492, Kyle_Robarts at baylor.edu<mailto:Kyle_Robarts at baylor.edu>

Cummings media items: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8i77e72btka8atz/AADw9ZaOyVItV93adDxEUIUla?dl=0

WACO, Texas - Baylor Women’s Basketball Head Coach Nicki Collen announced Wednesday that Tari Cummings will join the staff as an assistant coach. Cummings leaves her head-coaching post at Arkansas-Fort Smith to join Baylor and was previously a college assistant at Cincinnati, Houston, Arkansas, Tulsa and UAFS.

Wednesday’s announcement marks the second-consecutive day that Collen has announced a staff member after retaining Director of Athletic Performance, Jeremy Heffner, Tuesday. Cummings and Collen are reunited after coaching together for three seasons at Arkansas under head coach Tom Collen.

“I am thrilled to welcome Tari to Baylor. I have had the pleasure of working alongside Tari at Arkansas and know how well she recruits, connects with players, and teaches the game,” Collen said. “We have a shared vision of how to lead and serve at Baylor, and I am excited for the Waco community to get to know her and her daughter, Tiya.”

Prior to a three-year head-coaching stint at UAFS, Cummings was an assistant at Tulsa for the 2017-18 season, she spent six seasons at Arkansas from 2011-2017, two at Houston from 2009-11, two at Cincinnati from 2007-09 and four seasons at UAFS as an assistant from 2003-07.

All in all, Cummings has been in the coaching profession at the college level for 16 seasons. Her Arkansas teams reached the NCAA Tournament Second Round twice and Houston reached the NCAA Tournament in 2011. At Arkansas and Houston, she was the recruiting coordinator for the respective programs, and four times at Arkansas Cummings signed espnW Hoopgurlz Top 100 recruits.

“I want to thank Coach Collen for giving me this great opportunity to be a part of such a prominent program that is so rich in tradition and success,” Cummings said. “I look forward to being back side-by-side with her as we strive to continue to build on the success of Baylor women’s basketball.”

Cummings played two seasons at UAFS when the program was a two-year school, finishing with 1,262 career points in two seasons, and she was named an All-American in 1999 by the NJCAA. She transferred to Oklahoma State, where she was an All-Big 12 performer for the 2001-02 season, averaging 13.1 points per game and leading the Cowgirls in rebounding at 6.9 per contest.

She earned an associate’s degree at UAFS in 1999 before graduating from Oklahoma State in 2003 with a degree in sociology. Cummings has a daughter, Tiya.

Tari Cummings File
Years                     Title                                                                                                                        Institution
2021-present        Assistant Coach                                                                                                   Baylor
2018-2021             Head Coach                                                                                                          Arkansas-Fort Smith
2017-2018             Assistant Coach                                                                                                   Tulsa
2011-2017             Assistant Coach – Recruiting Coordinator                                                       Arkansas
2009-2011             Assistant Coach – Recruiting Coordinator                                                       Houston
2007-2009             Assistant Coach – Recruiting Coordinator                                                       Cincinnati
2003-2007             Assistant Coach – Recruiting Coordinator                                                       UAFS

Playing Career
Years                     Institution                                                                                                             Notes
1997-1999             Arkansas-Fort Smith                                                                                            NJCAA All-American
2000-2002             Oklahoma State                                                                                                   2002 All-Big 12

Education
2003                       Bachelor’s Degree – Oklahoma State
1999                       Associate’s Degree – Arkansas-Fort Smith


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___________________________________
Kyle Robarts | Associate Director, Athletics Communications (WBB, WTEN)
Department of Athletics | Baylor University
O: 254-710-3042 | C: 254-405-9492

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