Sheryl Swoopes named Director of Player Development at Texas Tech

The Texas Tech Lady Raider staff landed one of the greatest ever, the team announced Wednesday. Basketball legend Sheryl Swoopes is joining the program as Director of Player Development, according to a statement released by the team.

Swoopes still holds the single-game scoring record (a whopping 53 in the 1993 D-1 tournament) at Texas Tech, and set dozens of other records throughout her time at school. The No. 22 jersey she wore while with the Lady Raiders was retired in February 1994

She was famously one of the first women to sign onto the WNBA when it was created in 1996, marking a foray into uncharted territory for the sport. Her ability to keep the league afloat as its central star during its early days parallels her performance in Texas, all shining memories in the story of her legendary career. The young women who are part of the Lady Raiders program at Texas Tech will be learning from one of the best.

As a Lady Raider, Swoopes won a national championship and was named Naismith National Player of the Year as a senior. She ranked second in the country with a scoring average of 28.1 points per game to lead the Lady Raiders that season. Earlier this year, the basketball lifer was named to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame as well as the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

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The sports world will be watching to see the impact Swoopes has on her old program. The continued career of a vital and vibrant part of women’s basketball history is a timeline worth following. Because of all the success Swoopes has had, the move looks like a home run for Texas Tech. After representing her school, team and country, Swoopes now looks to embark on an even greater challenge. One as an ambassador of the sport and a representative of the game’s next generation.