Newberry Welcomes New Women’s Basketball Coaches
In the heart of Newberry, excitement is bubbling in the world of women’s basketball as Newberry College welcomes two new additions to its coaching staff! Coach Johnette Walker, the dynamic and passionate head coach, has announced that Brittany Bigott and Ki’Ari Cain will be joining her team. With the season just around the corner, this news adds a fresh wave of energy to the program!
Meet Coach Brittany Bigott
Brittany Bigott is ready to jump right in and make her mark. Before joining Newberry, she served as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at UNC Asheville, where she left an impression on both players and staff alike. Her experience continues to shine through with previous coaching roles at Sam Houston State from 2020 to 2023, and McNeese State from 2018 to 2020. Prior to that, she even honed her skills as a graduate assistant coach at Wayne State, and spent a few years coaching at the BIG Basketball Academy in Houston.
What’s really exciting is Brittany’s track record while coaching at Sam Houston State. She had the honor of coaching several standout players, including two who landed on the All-WAC First Team and one who even made the All-WAC Defensive Team. With her hands-on experience team-building and developing talent, she is poised to make a difference at Newberry.
Originally hailing from Katy, Texas, Brittany is a highly educated individual. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of St. Thomas (Texas) in 2017. It doesn’t stop there, though! She has also earned graduate degrees from both Wayne State and Sam Houston State. To add a cherry on top, during her playing days at St. Thomas, Brittany maintained a stellar academic record, being named a NAIA Scholar-Athlete all four years and leading her team in three-point percentage during her freshman and sophomore years.
Introducing Coach Ki’Ari Cain
Next up, we have Ki’Ari Cain, another exciting new addition to the staff! Ki’Ari comes to Newberry after wrapping up her college playing career at the University of Memphis, where she not only started 25 out of her 30 games but also led her team in assists, racking up an impressive 74 assists in total. Ki’Ari averaged 6.2 points per game, proving herself to be a valuable player on the court.
Before her stint at Memphis, Ki’Ari played for Gardner-Webb, where she achieved fantastic milestones, including being the school’s all-time leader in assists with 426. What’s remarkable is that she played a pivotal role in helping her team secure a spot in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, finishing with a 29-5 overall record and a perfect 18-0 run in conference play!
Ki’Ari is not just a talented player; she brings strong leadership skills to the table and was a team captain while also being active on campus as a liaison for students of color. A proud graduate of Sumter High School, she honed her skills and earned accolades along the way, becoming an all-conference performer.
A Bright Future Ahead
With both Brittany and Ki’Ari in the fold, Coach Walker expressed her enthusiasm by saying, “I am excited to add these two outstanding people to our staff because both are leaders who will help our student-athletes achieve all their academic, athletic, and personal goals.” The duo’s versatility and experience in collegiate basketball are expected to greatly benefit the Newberry women’s basketball players.
As the team gears up for a new season, the addition of these talented coaches signals a positive era for Newberry College women’s basketball. The community can’t wait to see the fantastic impact they will have on the student-athletes and the program as a whole!
