Dungee hired as assistant coach at Troy

Arkansas guard Chelsea Dungee celebrates after hitting a shot against Connecticut during the second half of a game Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Fayetteville. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)

A former Arkansas women’s basketball standout is set to begin her coaching career in 2022-23, it was announced Monday.

Chelsea Dungee, who scored 2,147 career points in one season at Oklahoma and three seasons at Arkansas, has been named an assistant coach at Troy University in Alabama. In a release, Dungee said it has been a lifelong goal to become a Division I women’s basketball coach.

"My collegiate and professional experiences have provided me with vast knowledge of the game and the ability to create and maintain healthy relationships through shared experiences,” she added. “The feeling of giving back and contributing to the growth of young women is unmatched.”

Dungee is joining the staff of head coach Chanda Rigby, who completed her 10th season with the program in 2021-22. The Trojans have won 20-plus games in seven of the last eight seasons and claimed the Sun Belt regular season or conference tournament title five times since 2015-16.

They finished last season 24-9 overall and lost to Alabama in the first round of the WNIT in March.

Dungee was drafted by the WNBA’s Dallas Wings with the fifth overall pick in 2021 and played in 14 games as a rookie. She was waived April 26.

In her final season at Arkansas, Dungee averaged 22.3 points and reached double figures in every game.

"It's been almost eight years since I've had an opening on my staff to fill," Rigby said in the release. "When this position came open, I knew I wanted to hire someone who would make a strong impact on current players and carry deep influence with recruits. Chelsea will be all of this and much more.  She worked her way up into being a top scorer in the NCAA and a high draft pick in the WNBA.

“The passion that she possesses, and her desire to be great, will be infectious. With her presence, Chelsea will help us continue to elevate the brand of Troy Women's Basketball in the recruiting world.”

Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors stated that he hoped “great young players being hired by confident head coaches to help us grow the game with the next wave of young hoopers” is a trend that continues. 

He also hinted that the Razorbacks will play Troy next season.

“Chelsea's unique background will be impactful in the lives of Troy's student-athletes,” Neighbors said. “She will bring an intensity and competitiveness every day that challenges each player in a way that will help each grow their game on and off the court.”