PC introduces Sardin as women’s hoops coach

New Presbyterian College women’s basketball head coach Tiffany Sardin said she had never held a Scottish Claymore sword like the one presented to her Friday afternoon by PC Athletic Director Dee Nichols.

But now she has the sword and the keys to the Blue Hose women’s basketball program.

Sardin’s hire was announced during a Friday press conference at PC’s Templeton Center. She takes over following the resignation of Alaura Sharp, who took the same post at Appalachian State after leading PC to new heights this past season.

“I’m really pumped to be back (in the Upstate) and looking forward to really build off what the women have laid down so far,” Sardin said. “My vision here and what you can expect to see is us building off the championship season they’re coming off of, but we’re going to new levels.

“You’re going to see a tough team who’s going to get after it and play some exciting basketball.”
Sardin began her coaching career in 2012 as an assistant at Mount Olive and added stops at Clemson, Boston University, Illinois-Chicago, Longwood and Saint Louis.

She also was the head coach at Chicago State from 2020-22 where she amassed a 4-37 record in her two seasons. Chicago State has had just one winning season since the women’s basketball program began in 1986 and was a combined 4-113 in the four seasons prior to Sardin’s arrival.

PC is coming off a record-setting 21-15 season that culminated with Big South title, First Four victory over Sacred Heart and a first-round NCAA Tournament loss to eventual unbeaten National Champion South Carolina.

“Coach Sardin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our Women’s Basketball program”, Nichols said. “She is committed to continue the success of this program with a focus on player development, mentorship, and personal growth for each player both on and off the court. Her ability to recruit great players is an outstanding accomplishment that is evident in her body of work.”

Sardin, a Chicago native, played collegiately at Virginia (2002-07) and professionally in Portugal.
She will enter her first season at PC with a roster in flux. The team’s top three scorers – Bryanna Brady, Tilda Sjökvist and Mara Neira – are not returning. Brady graduated, while Sjökvist and Neira entered the transfer portal along with several others.

“My mindset is to get after it and get some recruits in here and build a (coaching) staff,” Sardin said.
“I’ll be myself (as a recruiter) and our women will also be involved in the process of adding new members of the program, but the transfer portal is here, and we will take some action in it as well. I’m in the process of re-evaluating our women but also recruiting them to stay here and to continue to help us create that special magic.”

Sardin also said she wanted to continue to highlight the family feel Sharp grew in the program during her six seasons at the helm, and those sentiments were welcomed by the returning players who attended Friday’s press conference.

“As a team, we’re really big on the family aspect of things on and off the court,” said junior forward Dennaye Hinds. “So, having (Sardin) emphasize that gives us a good feeling. . . . We just have to trust the process, but we’ve got a good feeling about her.”

PC Notes: Junior point guard Tilda Sjökvist said she has committed to Missouri. The Tigers were 11-17 overall and 2-14 in the SEC last season. Sjökvist, the Big South Championship tournament MVP, averaged a team-high 12.2 points and 3.4 assists per game. . . . Junior guard Mara Neira announced Sunday on social media that she has committed to Appalachian State where she will join former PC head coach Alaura Sharp. Neira averaged 11.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game last season. … Junior guard Natalie Herrin, who was the fourth and final PC guard to undergo knee surgery this past season, said she expects to be back in action by December. . . . Herrin, Dennaye Hinds, Sonia Sato, Paige Kindseth, Ashley Carrillo and Laney Scoggins are expected to return to the Blue Hose next season.