INDIANAPOLIS – Jama Sharp was formally introduced as the next UIndy women's basketball head coach on Wednesday in front of a small gathering of community members and university personnel.
 
"Being a head coach has always been a dream of mine and I'm very excited for what's to come," said Sharp. "Coaching has been my way to give back and pour into young women like my coaches and former bosses have poured into me."
 
Sharp was announced as the program's 11th head coach on Monday, returning to her home state for first time since graduating from Mooresville High School where she was named an Indiana All-Star as a senior.
 
"UIndy is a special place," said Sharp. "I've been at different places and different levels, so when I got the call for a place like this in my home state of Indiana where basketball is the centerpiece, it was a no-brainer."
 
Sharp is optimistic of the current roster and where she needs to build moving forward.
 
"We have a good foundation so we're not starting from ground zero, which is good," Sharp said of the current team makeup. "I want someone who works hard, who plays hard, who's going to go out there and fight."
 
During her coaching tenure at Stetson, Sharp progressed from coordinating and organizing practices, creating recruiting graphics and materials, running the team's social media accounts, and specifically working on-court with guards, to later leading the offense, and, most recently serving as Stetson's defensive coordinator.
 
As a point guard and member of the Hatters from 2011-15, Sharp scored more than 1,200 career points and played in all 133 games while twice earning A-SUN All-Conference honors and graduating cum laude.