TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State University head women's basketball coach Charli Turner Thorne today announced the appointment of Angie Nelp as assistant coach.
Nelp will be replacing longtime Sun Devil associate head coach Meg Sanders who will be stepping down to spend more time with family. Turner Thorne also announced that current assistant coach Jackie Moore has been promoted to associate head coach.
"Angie is a rising star in the coaching community and she brings a wealth of knowledge to our staff," Turner Thorne said. "She has an exceptional offensive mind and is an outstanding teacher. Her remarkable versatility as a player translated really well to the coaching ranks as she has a proven track record in player skill development at every position on the floor. In addition to all her wonderful attributes as a coach, Angie has an incredible spirit and a genuine passion for working with student-athletes. She is committed to see them succeed not just on the court, but also in the classroom and in the community. We are thrilled she will be joining our Sun Devil family.
"I cannot thank Meg Sanders enough for being not only an unbelievable coach and caring mentor to all of our young women at ASU, but also an amazing confidant. Meg's contributions are too much to even begin to summarize. I am so happy she is taking this time to be with her family and I am so grateful for everything she has done for me and everybody associated with our program."
Nelp will be coming to ASU from Rice University where most recently she helped guide the Owls to a WBI Championship (the school's first postseason title) and 22 victories in 2016-17, the second-most wins in a single season. The Owls improved by 13 wins from her first to second season, one of the top increments in the nation. Players who Nelp has mentored in her time as an assistant coach have combined for 17 All-Conference awards. In addition she has helped develop three players who went on to play in the WNBA and eight players who signed to play professionally overseas.
"I am extremely honored that Coach Charli has invited me to be a part of Arizona State women's basketball, a program I have greatly admired throughout my coaching career," Nelp said. "The family environment at ASU was obvious from the first moment I stepped on campus. I have an amazing respect for Coach Charli as she is one of the best coaches in the country. The tradition and culture of this program is unmatched, and I can't wait to get started with this great staff. My family and I look forward to joining the thriving Sun Devil community."
Rice led all of Conference USA in total assists (558) and total rebounds (1,308) while setting a single-season program record in 3-pointers (242). In addition the Owls ranked second in the league in assists per game (15.9), field goal percentage (.444), made three-pointers (242) and free throw attempts (626).
The Owls set a school record with 13 home victories in the 2016-17 season and the team's 9-2 start was the best by a Rice squad since the 1988-89 season.
Nelp joined the Owls after spending four seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Mercer where she was responsible for coaching the guards, as well as scout and film preparation. Nelp helped lead Mercer to two 20-win seasons, setting school records for most conference and non-conference wins while orchestrating one of the nation's quickest program turnarounds in one year as the Bears went from six to 20 wins.
Prior to Mercer, Nelp served as assistant director of basketball operations at Marquette University. She also spent one season as a graduate assistant coach on the Arkansas women's basketball staff under then head coach Tom Collen.
Nelp played collegiate basketball at Colorado State, accumulating 1,397 points, 629 rebounds, 356 assists and 261 steals in four seasons. During her time with the Rams she earned Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors, was a first-team All-MWC selection, a Kodak All-America Honorable Mention honoree and was named an academic all-conference performer all four seasons.
After graduating from Colorado State in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in health and exercise science, she went on to spend two seasons with the NWBL Colorado Chill and one season with 08 Stockholm in Sweden. As a professional, she helped lead the Chill to the 2005 NWBL title and 08 Stockholm to the 2003 Swedish national crown.
Following her professional career, Nelp returned to the United States to serve as the head girls' basketball coach at Yorktown High in Yorktown, Ind.
Nelp and her husband Jake have two sons, JJ and Louis.
Sanders, who just completed her 14th season on Turner Thorne's staff, has been one of the principal contributors to the most successful era in program history. During her time on the Sun Devil sidelines, Sanders helped the Sun Devils qualify for the NCAA Tournament 10 times, advance to the Elite Eight twice and capture the program's second regular season Pac-12 championship.
In addition to serving on Turner Thorne's staff at ASU, Sanders was also an assistant to Turner Thorne in her first head coaching position at Northern Arizona University (1993-96). Sanders would assume the reins at NAU when Turner Thorne was named ASU's head coach in 1996. She spent seven seasons leading the Lumberjacks before rejoining Turner Thorne at ASU in 2003.
"Meg and I go way back to when we were both in college working Stanford's basketball camp," Turner Thorne said. "She is one of my dearest friends, which is all the more reason I am so happy for her. We are going to miss her and we are so appreciative of everything she gave to us."
Moore, who has more than 20 years of coaching experience, joined the Sun Devil coaching staff 2012. In addition to serving as the program's recruiting coordinator, Moore's on-court contributions have been vital to ASU's recent success, which includes 98 wins and four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances since 2014.
"I'm really pleased to announce the promotion of Jackie Moore to associate head coach," Turner Thorne said. "Jackie has been a tireless worker since she came to ASU. She really does it all for us and has continued to add incredible value to this program. She is more than deserving of this promotion."
Moore and Nelp will be joined by first-year assistant coach Briann January. Last month Turner Thorne announced that January, a former Sun Devil standout and current WNBA star, would be joining the Sun Devil coaching staff after her playing commitment to the Indiana Fever concludes following the WNBA season.
The Sun Devils are coming off their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance as they advanced to the second round of NCAAs where they nearly upset eventual national champion South Carolina on its home floor after taking a one-point lead into the game's final minute. Turner Thorne, who posted her 400th win as ASU's head coach last month, will return for her 21st season and will lead a squad that will look to match the school record of five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and five straight 20-win seasons.
Nelp will be replacing longtime Sun Devil associate head coach Meg Sanders who will be stepping down to spend more time with family. Turner Thorne also announced that current assistant coach Jackie Moore has been promoted to associate head coach.
"Angie is a rising star in the coaching community and she brings a wealth of knowledge to our staff," Turner Thorne said. "She has an exceptional offensive mind and is an outstanding teacher. Her remarkable versatility as a player translated really well to the coaching ranks as she has a proven track record in player skill development at every position on the floor. In addition to all her wonderful attributes as a coach, Angie has an incredible spirit and a genuine passion for working with student-athletes. She is committed to see them succeed not just on the court, but also in the classroom and in the community. We are thrilled she will be joining our Sun Devil family.
"I cannot thank Meg Sanders enough for being not only an unbelievable coach and caring mentor to all of our young women at ASU, but also an amazing confidant. Meg's contributions are too much to even begin to summarize. I am so happy she is taking this time to be with her family and I am so grateful for everything she has done for me and everybody associated with our program."
Nelp will be coming to ASU from Rice University where most recently she helped guide the Owls to a WBI Championship (the school's first postseason title) and 22 victories in 2016-17, the second-most wins in a single season. The Owls improved by 13 wins from her first to second season, one of the top increments in the nation. Players who Nelp has mentored in her time as an assistant coach have combined for 17 All-Conference awards. In addition she has helped develop three players who went on to play in the WNBA and eight players who signed to play professionally overseas.
"I am extremely honored that Coach Charli has invited me to be a part of Arizona State women's basketball, a program I have greatly admired throughout my coaching career," Nelp said. "The family environment at ASU was obvious from the first moment I stepped on campus. I have an amazing respect for Coach Charli as she is one of the best coaches in the country. The tradition and culture of this program is unmatched, and I can't wait to get started with this great staff. My family and I look forward to joining the thriving Sun Devil community."
Rice led all of Conference USA in total assists (558) and total rebounds (1,308) while setting a single-season program record in 3-pointers (242). In addition the Owls ranked second in the league in assists per game (15.9), field goal percentage (.444), made three-pointers (242) and free throw attempts (626).
The Owls set a school record with 13 home victories in the 2016-17 season and the team's 9-2 start was the best by a Rice squad since the 1988-89 season.
Nelp joined the Owls after spending four seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Mercer where she was responsible for coaching the guards, as well as scout and film preparation. Nelp helped lead Mercer to two 20-win seasons, setting school records for most conference and non-conference wins while orchestrating one of the nation's quickest program turnarounds in one year as the Bears went from six to 20 wins.
Prior to Mercer, Nelp served as assistant director of basketball operations at Marquette University. She also spent one season as a graduate assistant coach on the Arkansas women's basketball staff under then head coach Tom Collen.
Nelp played collegiate basketball at Colorado State, accumulating 1,397 points, 629 rebounds, 356 assists and 261 steals in four seasons. During her time with the Rams she earned Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors, was a first-team All-MWC selection, a Kodak All-America Honorable Mention honoree and was named an academic all-conference performer all four seasons.
After graduating from Colorado State in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in health and exercise science, she went on to spend two seasons with the NWBL Colorado Chill and one season with 08 Stockholm in Sweden. As a professional, she helped lead the Chill to the 2005 NWBL title and 08 Stockholm to the 2003 Swedish national crown.
Following her professional career, Nelp returned to the United States to serve as the head girls' basketball coach at Yorktown High in Yorktown, Ind.
Nelp and her husband Jake have two sons, JJ and Louis.
Sanders, who just completed her 14th season on Turner Thorne's staff, has been one of the principal contributors to the most successful era in program history. During her time on the Sun Devil sidelines, Sanders helped the Sun Devils qualify for the NCAA Tournament 10 times, advance to the Elite Eight twice and capture the program's second regular season Pac-12 championship.
In addition to serving on Turner Thorne's staff at ASU, Sanders was also an assistant to Turner Thorne in her first head coaching position at Northern Arizona University (1993-96). Sanders would assume the reins at NAU when Turner Thorne was named ASU's head coach in 1996. She spent seven seasons leading the Lumberjacks before rejoining Turner Thorne at ASU in 2003.
"Meg and I go way back to when we were both in college working Stanford's basketball camp," Turner Thorne said. "She is one of my dearest friends, which is all the more reason I am so happy for her. We are going to miss her and we are so appreciative of everything she gave to us."
Moore, who has more than 20 years of coaching experience, joined the Sun Devil coaching staff 2012. In addition to serving as the program's recruiting coordinator, Moore's on-court contributions have been vital to ASU's recent success, which includes 98 wins and four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances since 2014.
"I'm really pleased to announce the promotion of Jackie Moore to associate head coach," Turner Thorne said. "Jackie has been a tireless worker since she came to ASU. She really does it all for us and has continued to add incredible value to this program. She is more than deserving of this promotion."
Moore and Nelp will be joined by first-year assistant coach Briann January. Last month Turner Thorne announced that January, a former Sun Devil standout and current WNBA star, would be joining the Sun Devil coaching staff after her playing commitment to the Indiana Fever concludes following the WNBA season.
The Sun Devils are coming off their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance as they advanced to the second round of NCAAs where they nearly upset eventual national champion South Carolina on its home floor after taking a one-point lead into the game's final minute. Turner Thorne, who posted her 400th win as ASU's head coach last month, will return for her 21st season and will lead a squad that will look to match the school record of five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and five straight 20-win seasons.