Wanda Watkins
Head Coach

     The winningest coach in Lady Camel basketball history, Wanda Watkins is entering her 19^th year at the post.
     Since taking over the Campbell University women's program in 1981, Watkins has led her teams to a 306-184 mark and has recorded only one losing campaign in 18 seasons at the helm.
     Even more impressive, however is the fact that over 95 percent of the women's basketball players at Campbell have earned undergraduate degrees since Watkins became head coach.
     Last season, five players on the Lady Camel roster earned Trans America Athletic Conference All-Academic honors by posting a 3.0 grade-point average or better.
     Watkins has been named league Coach of the Year two times, and once tabbed Co-Coach of the Year. On Feb. 6, 1999, she notched her 300^th career win over Florida Atlantic (64-63) in Boca Raton, FL.
     Her 200^th-coaching victory came on Dec. 10, 1992 when the Camels defeated Mount Olive, 88-61 in Buies Creek. Win number 225 came on Jan. 28, 1994 by a 72-65 margin at Charleston Southern. Watkins earned her 250th win on Jan. 6, 1996 with a 67-52 Camel win over Georgia State.
     In her first five seasons as Campbell's head women's basketball coach, Watkins led the Camels into post-season play despite the fact that the program was not affiliated with a conference.
     The Camels advanced to the AIAW Division II state and regional tournaments in 1982, Watkins' first year as head coach. The next four seasons, Campbell participated in the NAIA District 26 playoffs and the '85 and '86 squads advanced to the district title game.
     In 1991, Watkins led the Camels to their first unbeaten Big South Conference regular season schedule (12-0) and the team's fourth 20-win season. Watkins also led her team to six Big South Tournament final appearances in the eight years in which Campbell competed in league play.
     Under Watkins' leadership, the Lady Camels compiled their first 20-win season in their last year at the NAIA level (1985-86), then repeated the feat in their first campaign at the NCAA Division I status (1986-87). One year later, the Camels registered a school-record 23-5 slate. The 1990-91 club just missed tying the school record for wins with a 22-7 mark.
     In addition to her coaching achievements, Watkins holds a very special place in Campbell athletics history. She was the school's first female athletic scholarship recipient after graduating from nearby South Johnston High School in 1975. She was a member of SJHS's 1974 North Carolina State Championship team. During her final year at CU, she served as team captain of the basketball squad and captained the softball team for three years. Despite suffering an injury in part of her final campaign, Watkins was named MVP of the 1978-79 basketball team and selected Campbell's Outstanding Female Athlete.
     Her leadership ability led to Watkins' appointment as graduate assistant coach of the women's basketball team in 1979-80 and as the school's first full-time women's assistant coach the following year. She also served as CU's softball coach in 1981. A year later, Watkins succeeded Betty Jo Clary as head women's basketball coach.
     Watkins resides in Clayton and is a member of the Oakland Presbyterian Church. She earned a B.S. degree in physical education in 1979. She also holds master's degrees in physical education and counseling and is a member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.

Mary Weiss
Assistant Coach

     Campbell graduate Mary Weiss is in her 14th season as an assistant coach in the Camel basketball program. The 36-year-old native of Hampton, Va., serves as recruiting coordinator and is involved in all aspects of the coaching operation.
     Since joining head coach Wanda Watkins' staff in 1986-87, Weiss has played a vital leadership role for teams that have amassed 222 wins against 137 losses. In the span from 1987-92, the Camels appeared in six-straight Big South Conference championship games and won the 1989 league title. Campbell won the Big South regular season crown in 1991.
     A standout guard for the Camels from 1983-85, Weiss still holds the school record for career assists average (6.8), dealing 342 assists in 50 games. As a player, Weiss started 48 of 50 games and led the team to a 31-20 record in two season, including a berth in the 1985 NAIA District 26 title contest.
     Weiss, who was named to the all-tournament team at the '85 district event, averaged 8.0 points during her career and also finished with 128 rebounds and 69 steals. The 1985 team captain registered a career-high 14 assists in a game against High Point on Jan. 4, 1985.
     Weiss was also a standout athlete at Chowan College in Murfreesboro, N.C., before transferring to Campbell. She was inducted into the Chowan Sports Hall of Fame in 1994. While at Chowan, Weiss was named Female Athlete of the Year in 1983 after earning all-district and all-regional honors on the basketball court. In 1983, she was also named Who's Who Among American Junior College students.
     Weiss graduated from Chowan in 1983 with an associate degree in physical education. She then earned her B.S. in physical education at Campbell in 1985 and in 1987 obtained her master's degree at Campbell.
     A member of the North Carolina High School Coaches Association and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, Weiss resides in Clayton.

Tonya Colwell
Assistant Coach

     Former Camel standout and graduate assistant coach Tonya Colwell is in her eighth year as full-time assistant coach at Campbell University.
     The Angier, N.C., resident assists in all phases of the Camel program, with special emphasis on coordinating team travel. She also works closely with the strength and conditioning staff to coordinate the strength training program for the team. In addition, Colwell assists with Campbell's annual Girls Basketball School.
     Colwell, who served as a graduate assistant with the Lady Camels from 1989-91, returned to Campbell after a one-year stint as head basketball, volleyball and assistant softball coach at Union High School.
     The 32-year-old native of Clinton, N.C., was a four-year letter winner and three-year starter for the Camels and scored 756 points (8.1 ppg) during her career. As a senior, she was a starter on Campbell's 1989 Big South Conference Championship team.
     During her tenure as a graduate assistant, CU recorded its first-ever unbeaten mark (12-0) in Big South regular season play and finished with a an overall 22-7 ledger in 1991.
     Colwell earned a B.S. in physical education from Campbell in 1989 and obtained her masters' degree in education in 1991. She is a member of the North Carolina High School Coaches Association and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, as well as the Clinton Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Karen Copeland
Assistant Coach

     Former Camel player Karen Copeland is in her second year as an assistant coach at Campbell University. She will coordinate the scouting and film exchange program, as well as assist with the academic supervision of the team.
     Copeland played in 47 games for the Lady Camels from 1987-89. During that time she shot 56 percent (22-39) from the free throw line and dished out 66 assists. As a senior, she helped lead the Lady Camels to the 1989 Big South Conference Championship title and was given the Coaches Award.
     Copeland spent the last four years at Chapel Hill’s Carolina Meadows, one of the top five retirement communities in the country. She first joined the staff as the Assistant Activities Director and was later promoted to Director of Activities for the over 650 residents in independent living.
     From 1990-94, Copeland taught 10^th grade physical education and health at Cary High School. She also coached the junior varsity volleyball and basketball teams.
     The Apex, N.C., native graduated from CU in 1990 with a B.S. degree in physical education and is currently pursuing her master's degree in education with a concentration in physical education at CU.