Mercedes Gillon-Gantt was named the Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at Langston University in August 2022 after serving in the positiong at Talladega College since the 2020-2021 season. In her first year, she assisted the Lady Tornadoes to a 16-3 record (COVID-19 year) and was named Back-to-Back Regular Season Champions.
In her second year as assistant coach she founded the 1st annual “Dream Classic Academy” which was a showcase of the women’s basketball program for student-athletes at HBCU’s. She collaborated with the Los Angeles Sparks, they provided gear to the Talladega College Women’s Basketball Program becausethey believed in the vision of the foundation. She brought in a panel of Professionals in the sports and entertainment industry to discuss the following topics on the importance of mental health, professional development, and female empowerment. It was a networking opportunity for the students and mentoring opportunity for the professionals. It generated over $16,000 to the institution in sponsorships and donors. The games brought in the most ticket sales for games in school history for women’s sports. The 2021-2022 season ended with a 21-12 overall record and 10-7 in conference in the 2021-2022 season. Entering the first season in SSAC, Women’s Basketballs preseason poll was ranked at #2 in the conference and finished as runner-up in the SSAC Conference Finals. The team managed to receive an At-Large Bid for the NAIA National Championship and advanced defeating #13 ranked Providence University.
In her rookie season as the Director of Basketball Operations for the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, she helped with the Lady Golden Lions as they tripled their SWAC win total from the previous year in qualifying for the SWAC Tournament for the first time since 2018. In close games in the fourth quarter last season, UAPB was tied for best in the nation in forcing turnovers on 31.4% of possessions. Gillon-Gantt, a 2019 Graduate of Talladega College, earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. She would establish her academic scholarship, her development as a student leader and ambassador, and shine as a committed member of both women’s Basketball and Soccer teams. During her time as a student-athlete under Coach Kevin Herod’s Leadership, at Talladega she would go on to be named 2016-2017 Back-to-Back GCAC Regular Season and Conference Champions on the Lady Tornados Women’s basketball team and making an appearance in the National Tournament. “As I prepare to enter Langston University as the Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach. We will continue a winning legacy as I assist the Lady Lions to Championship’s alongside Coach Kevin Herod. I want to extend a Thank you to Dr. Smith and AD Rogers for believing in us as a staff and providing us with this opportunity. We will uphold the same spirit of excellence to the athletic department and the institution! L’s UP!!”
Her next steps in her journey, as described by her, are to work with manner of athletes from scholar athletes to professional athletes to help educate and provide equitable returns on their athletic careers. Her motivation to pursue this line of work stems from her own experiences with being a student-athlete and the support systems that helped to improve her understanding of the world and business of sports. She is a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated and is continuing her academic achievements as she is finishing up her Masters of Arts Degree in Business Marketing at Talladega College.
