Hempstead, NY – Hofstra Head Women's Basketball Coach Danielle Santos Atkinson has announced today the addition of Keila Whittington to the Pride women's basketball coaching staff as an assistant coach.
 
"We're thrilled to welcome Keila to our staff," said Santos Atkinson, who enters her seventh season at the helm in Hempstead. "Kelia brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, and passon for the game that will have an immediate impact on our program. She has a proven track record of developing players and building strong relationships, and her energy and commitment to excellence aligns perfectly with our vision at Hofstra. Our student-athletes will benefit greatly from her leadership and mentorship."
 
Whittington most recently served as the head women's basketball coach at Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania from 2019 until the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. The Red Flash won 56 games during Whittington's tenure, including a 14-win campaign in 2020-21. Whittington developed multiple all-conference and conference award-winning student-athletes, including 2022 NEC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-NEC Conference selection Jada Dapaa and 2024 NEC Rookie of the Year and First Team All-NEC Conference honoree Kendall Carruthers. In the classroom, three Red Flash student-athletes were named CSC Academic All-District last season, and Karson Swogger was named the NEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2020.
 
"I am extremely grateful and excited about the opportunity to be a part of Hofstra's women's basketball program," Whittington said. "Most importantly, I want to do whatever it takes to help Coach Santos Atkinson achieve her vision and goals for the program, and I am ready and willing to help the staff and team continue to prepare for a successful season."
 
Prior to her first head coaching position, Whittington was an assistant coach at Marist College for three seasons from 2016 until 2019. The Red Foxes won 58 games in her three seasons on the bench, and they earned a bid to the Women's NIT at the conclusion of the 2017-18 season. This was Whittington's second stint on the Marist sideline, after she was previously the assistant coach from 2007 to 2009 and helped the Red Foxes to back-to-back MAAC regular season and tournament titles in 2008 and 2009.
 
Whittington has also had coaching stops at Memphis (associate head coach, 2012-13), Oregon (assistant coach/recruiting coordinator, 2009-12), Penn State (assistant coach/recruiting coordinator, 2001-07), South Alabama (assistant coach/recruiting coordinator, 2000-01), Indiana (assistant coach, 1995-98; assistant coach/recruiting coordinator, 1998-00), Rhode Island (assistant coach, 1993-95), and Delaware (graduate assistant coach, 1991-93).
 
Whittington graduated from Dillard University in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in health and physical education. She also received her master's degree in physical education from Delaware in 1993, where she was a graduate assistant coach for two seasons.