Georgia Southern head women's basketball coach Hana Haden has assembled her coaching staff for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
The ninth head coach in program history for the Eagles will retain assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Dexter Jenkins from the previous staff while adding a new associate head coach in Paul Fessler; a new assistant coach in Dyandria (Dee) Anderson and a new director of basketball operations and assistant coach in Jalisa Mitchell.
"I am very excited about the staff that we have assembled here at Georgia Southern," Coach Haden said. "This is a group of high energy and high character people who bring great experience in coaching, recruiting and player development. Our staff will serve as great mentors in developing our student-athletes to pursue the best versions of themselves both on and off the floor."
Read all about Coach Haden's inaugural staff below!
Paul Fessler - Associate Head Coach
Paul Fessler joins the Eagles after spending the last two seasons as the Associate Head Coach at the University of Missouri - Kansas City. The Roos were the first 10-seed to advance to the Summit League semifinals during Fessler's first season in Kansas City in 2022-23.
Prior to his two seasons with the Roos, Fessler served as an assistant/associate head coach at Bradley University for five seasons from 2016-21. Bradley captured the Summit League title and earned the program's first NCAA tournament bid in 2021.
He served as the head coach at NCAA Division II Concordia St. Paul for 16 seasons, amassing a 326-148 record (.688) and earning 10 NCAA Championships bids, including a trip to the DII Elite Eight in 2013-14. Fessler's coaching career began at Annoka Ramsey Community College, where he served as a head coach for four seasons, winning 101 games and capturing three NJCAA Division III National Championships.
A native of Sutherland, Iowa, Fessler graduated with his bachelor's degree in physical education from the University of Northern Iowa in 1988. He was inducted into the Minnesota Girls Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
Fessler and his wife, Shelly, have one daughter, Jade.
"I'm thrilled and honored to join Coach Haden's staff," Coach Fessler said. "I've watched her teams play and have been impressed with how hard they compete. I can't wait to help her build something special at Georgia Southern!"
"I couldn't be more excited for the opportunity to work with Coach Paul Fessler," Coach Haden said. "Coach Fess is a proven winner who has been on the sidelines for over 25 years. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in every aspect to our staff and program. He has an incredible mind for the game and is elite in developing interior players and will be a tremendous asset to our student athletes and our program."
Dexter Jenkins - Assistant Coach & Recruiting Coordinator
Dexter Jenkins returns to the Eagles after serving as an assistant coach for his first season in Statesboro in 2023-24.
Jenkins joined Georgia Southern after spending one season as an assistant coach at Saint Francis University in Pennsylvania. Prior to Saint Francis, Jenkins spent four seasons at NCAA Division II member Winston-Salem State as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. The best statistical season with Jenkins on staff at Winston-Salem State was in 2018-19, when the Rams finished 15-13 overall and 11-7 in CIAA play. During his stint, he worked directly with guards, developing the CIAA Freshman of the Year Amaya Tucker.
Jenkins is a 2008 graduate of North Carolina Central University where he earned his bachelor's of science degree in business administration. He also earned his master's in physical education from NCCU. He and his wife, Shaleema, are the parents of two children, a son, Dade, and a daughter, Shi.
"I'm excited for the opportunity to be a part of Coach Haden's staff here at Georgia Southern," Coach Jenkins said. "She is a winner and has had a major impact everywhere she has been. I want to personally thank Coach Haden for allowing me to continue to be a part of this great program. Me and my family are looking forward to continuing to call Statesboro home!"
"Coach Dexter Jenkins has been invaluable during my transition to Georgia Southern and I am very grateful that he decided to remain in Statesboro with us," Coach Haden said. "He is a relentless recruiter, an excellent on-floor coach and is proven in developing all conference perimeter players. His ability to connect with and develop players will serve as an incredible resource for our program."
Dyandria (Dee) Anderson - Assistant Coach
Dee Anderson joins the Eagles after spending the last four seasons as an assistant coach at UNC Asheville. While with the Bulldogs, Anderson worked with two-time All-Big South selection McKinley Brooks-Sumpter and helped UNCA lead the conference in three-point shooting defense.
Prior to her stint at UNC Asheville, Anderson served as a graduate assistant at Clemson University. A four-year standout at the University of Florida, Anderson played in 121 games for the Gators, compiling 724 points and 416 rebounds while also dishing out 304 career assists.
Anderson graduated with her bachelor's degree from Florida in telecommunications in 2018, and received her master's degree in athletic leadership from Clemson in 2020.
"I'm very excited and grateful to join the Georgia Southern family," Coach Anderson said. "Coach Hana has a great vision for a successful future and I'm thrilled to join this staff to begin our journey. The process will be amazing and I cannot wait to get to work!"
"I am thrilled to add Coach Dee Anderson to our coaching staff," Coach Haden said. "She brings valuable experience in recruiting, scouting, game preparation, and several other key areas. Coach Dee also played in the SEC and specializes in player development so I am very excited about how she will use her experience and passion for impacting young women to mentor and develop our student athletes both on and off the floor."
Jalisa Mitchell - Director of Basketball Operations & Assistant Coach
Jalisa Mitchell joins the Eagles after serving as an assistant for Coach Haden at Georgia Southwestern State University. She helped the 'Canes to their record-setting season in 2023-24 as GSW went 29-4, captured the Peach Belt regular season and tournament titles while also earning the school's first NCAA Division II Elite Eight berth.
Prior to GSW, Mitchell served as the Director of Basketball Operations at Northeastern University in 2022-23, helping the Huskies capture the CAA regular season title. Mitchell had a previous coaching stop at Providence before beginning her collegiate coaching career at Moberly Area Community College, where she spent three seasons on Coach Haden's staff.
A native of St. Louis, Mo., Mitchell played collegiately at St. Louis Community College and Harris-Stowe State University. She graduated from Harris-Stowe State with her bachelor's degree in business administration, with an emphasis in entrepreneurship.
"I'm very excited to join the Eagle family and contribute to its rich legacy," Coach Mitchell said. "I am overwhelmed with gratitude that Coach Hana gave me the opportunity to continue to coach alongside her. I'm ready to hit the ground running with this amazing coaching staff!"
"I am grateful to take on another challenge with Coach Jalisa Mitchell," Coach Haden said. "This is our third stop since I coached her back in 2015 as we have experienced coaching across the different levels of college basketball together. She has been involved in every aspect of the program at each of our previous stops and we have experienced a lot of success together. She knows what it takes to win at a high level and her relentless work ethic will benefit our program greatly."