Ashley Earley, a former professional player and All-American at Vanderbilt, enters her second season as an assistant coach in 2020-21.
At Penn State, Earley leads the defensive efforts as the head defensive coordnator, while also working with the post players. In 2019-20, Earley coached Lady Lion senior Siyeh Frazier to a personal-best 70 steals, third most in the conference and a top-50 mark in the nation (43). Earley is also responsible for international recruiting.
Before joining Kieger’s staff, Earley worked as the post player development coach and had an on-court defensive focus during her two seasons at Northern Kentucky. She mentored forward walk-on Kailey Coffey to a spot on the Horizon League All-Freshman Team in 2018, as well as helping guide NKU to a three-place improvement in the conference standings from 2018 to 2019.
Prior to her time at Northern Kentucky, Earley spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt. While in Nashville, she helped sign a pair of top-20 recruiting classes, including the No. 6 class in the country and top-ranked class in the SEC in 2016. Earley helped the Commodores earn their 15th-straight NCAA tournament berth in her first season at Vandy. The following season, the frontcourt was one of the most efficient in the nation with four players connecting above 50 percent from the field, while the entire team ranked 10th in the nation at 45.4 percent.
Prior to her return to her alma mater, Earley started her coaching career at Alabama as a graduate assistant before moving on to positions at Tennessee Tech (2007-09), Rhode Island (2009-10), Marquette (2010-12) and Virginia (2012-13).
Earley has been a part of six NCAA Tournaments, two as a coach and four as a player. She was named a 2016 SEC Legend for her achievements as a player and a coach in the SEC.
As a player at Vanderbilt from 2001-05, Earley was a unanimous All-SEC first team honoree, Kodak All-Region, an Associated Press All-American honorable mention and a Full Court Press All-American second team member. She led the SEC in field goal percentage and offensive rebounds in her senior season and was a candidate for both the Naismith Trophy and the Wooden Award. She also has extensive postseason tournament playing experience, helping the Commodores to the Elite Eight in 2002 as well as Sweet Sixteen appearances in 2004 and 2005.
Earley was drafted by the Indiana Fever as the No. 29 overall pick in the 2005 WNBA Draft and played professionally for the Maccabi Tel Kabir in the Safsal Israeli League. She finished in the top five in the Safsal Israeli League in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage.
At Penn State, Earley leads the defensive efforts as the head defensive coordnator, while also working with the post players. In 2019-20, Earley coached Lady Lion senior Siyeh Frazier to a personal-best 70 steals, third most in the conference and a top-50 mark in the nation (43). Earley is also responsible for international recruiting.
Before joining Kieger’s staff, Earley worked as the post player development coach and had an on-court defensive focus during her two seasons at Northern Kentucky. She mentored forward walk-on Kailey Coffey to a spot on the Horizon League All-Freshman Team in 2018, as well as helping guide NKU to a three-place improvement in the conference standings from 2018 to 2019.
Prior to her time at Northern Kentucky, Earley spent three seasons as the defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt. While in Nashville, she helped sign a pair of top-20 recruiting classes, including the No. 6 class in the country and top-ranked class in the SEC in 2016. Earley helped the Commodores earn their 15th-straight NCAA tournament berth in her first season at Vandy. The following season, the frontcourt was one of the most efficient in the nation with four players connecting above 50 percent from the field, while the entire team ranked 10th in the nation at 45.4 percent.
Prior to her return to her alma mater, Earley started her coaching career at Alabama as a graduate assistant before moving on to positions at Tennessee Tech (2007-09), Rhode Island (2009-10), Marquette (2010-12) and Virginia (2012-13).
Earley has been a part of six NCAA Tournaments, two as a coach and four as a player. She was named a 2016 SEC Legend for her achievements as a player and a coach in the SEC.
As a player at Vanderbilt from 2001-05, Earley was a unanimous All-SEC first team honoree, Kodak All-Region, an Associated Press All-American honorable mention and a Full Court Press All-American second team member. She led the SEC in field goal percentage and offensive rebounds in her senior season and was a candidate for both the Naismith Trophy and the Wooden Award. She also has extensive postseason tournament playing experience, helping the Commodores to the Elite Eight in 2002 as well as Sweet Sixteen appearances in 2004 and 2005.
Earley was drafted by the Indiana Fever as the No. 29 overall pick in the 2005 WNBA Draft and played professionally for the Maccabi Tel Kabir in the Safsal Israeli League. She finished in the top five in the Safsal Israeli League in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage.