JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The defending Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament champions have made an addition to their staff, Jacksonville University women's basketball announced Thursday.

Head coach Special Jennings announced the hiring of Monterika Warren to the Dolphins'staff as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, with Warren providing former Division 1 playing, head coaching and recruiting experience to Duval County.

"We are thrilled to welcome Monterika Warren to our coaching staff as our new assistant coach," Jennings said. "Bringing experience as a former head coach, coach Warren offers a wealth of knowledge, leadership and a deep understanding of what it takes to compete at a high level. We are excited for our players to learn and grow under her guidance and look forward to the positive influence she will have both on and off the court."

Warren started her career on the court as a student-athlete for Daytona State, later playing for Bethune-Cookman. The guard won two Mid-Florida Conference championships with Daytona State and was also named All Mid-Florida Conference First Team twice as well as serving as a two-time captain and earning her team's Offensive Player of the Year and Coaches' Award. 

With Bethune-Cookman, Warren helped her squad win two regular season MEAC titles, which saw the Wildcats make two Women's National Invitation Tournaments. Post graduating at Bethune-Cookman, Warren was selected as a participant in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association So You Want To Be A Coach program.

As a coach, Warren spent time as an assistant at Daytona State as well as serving as the Director of Basketball Operations for the ASUN's own Austin Peay State University. Warren also served as a head coach at the secondary school level with Halifax Academy and David C. Hinson Sr Middle School in Daytona Beach as well as Matanzas High School in Palm Coast. 

In January of 2023, Warren joined the staff at Johnson C. Smith University as an assistant coach and assistant athletics director of student affairs for the Division 2 HBCU. In August of '23, Warren was named the head coach at Johnson C. Smith.

Most recently, Warren served as an assistant coach and director of scouting for Bluefield State, a D2 HBCU in Bluefield, West Virginia. This past season, the Big Blue finished 15-12 and made it to the Quarterfinals of the CIAA Tournament.

Warren rounds out a staff coming off one of the most historic seasons in Jacksonville women's basketball history which saw the Dolphins to the ASUN Tournament crown and into the NCAA Tournament for just the second time ever.