Howard Adds Mason and Gittens to Women's Basketball Staff

COACH TENICHA GITTENS

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Howard University has named Jonathan Mason and Tenicha Gittens to the women's basketball coaching staff.

Mason comes to the Hilltop from Towson University where he served as an assistant coach during the 2012-13 season. Prior to that, he was the Director of Operations for the Women's basketball team during the 2011-12 season.

As an assistant, Mason served as camp director, assisted with recruiting, scouting assignments and skill development instruction with the Tiger perimeter and post players. While in that capacity, he developed a second team All-CAA player and another player who was selected to the conference all-conference team.

As director of operations, Mason handled team practice and travel arrangements, coordinated various functions and served as a general point of contact for the women's basketball program.

COACH JONATHAN MASON

Prior to arriving at Towson, Mason was the head coach of the girls' basketball team at Meade High School for a year and a half. During his tenure, he directed the Lady Mustangs to a 19-6 record and its first county championship in 14 years.

Mason coached two All-County team selections, with one of them being named to the All-Met team by the Washington Post.

Mason's duties with the Lady Bison will include recruiting, scouting assignments and skill development instruction.
"I am very excited to have Jonathan join the Bison family," said Howard University first year head coach Tennille Adams. "I thought it was very important to bring someone to Howard who was familiar with the regional landscape. His ties to the DMV should have an immediate impact on our recruiting. I believe his energy and enthusiasm will resonate with our players."

Mason, who received his undergraduate and Masters' degrees in Health and Physical Education and Interdisciplinary Studies, respectively from Frostburg State, started his coaching career as a manager and worked his way up to a graduate assistant with the Bobcats' men's team.

During the 2008-09 season, Mason helped the Bobcats post their best overall and conference records in six seasons (17-10; 13-5 conference). He worked primarily with perimeter player development.

Gittens comes to Howard from St. Francis University of Pennsylvania where she served as an assistant there. She played an integral part in the success of the team which finished 17-16 last season and earned a post-season invitation to the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI).

Before St. Francis, Gittens worked at LaSalle University as the Director of Women's Basketball Operations from 2010 to 2012.

"I am pleased to have Tenicha become part of our Bison family," said Adams of her hire. "I believe Howard has the ability to recruit internationally and Tenicha can help us tap into that area. She was a great player at Hofstra and she is someone our players will be able to relate to on and off the court."

Prior to her time at La Salle, she spent one season as the women's assistant basketball coach at McGill University in Canada. Other coaching stops for Gittens included a season as the head varsity coach of the boys' team at St. George's High School and head coach of the Blue Hounds Under-17 and Under-15, AAU girls basketball teams.

Gittens played collegiately at Hofstra University, where she competed for two seasons. While there, she earned the honor of Sixth Player of the Year as a junior. Before coming to Hofstra, Gittens played one season of junior college basketball at Eastern Arizona College where she led the team to its best finish in school history. While there, she earned a first team all-star selection, averaging 13 points, four assists and three steals per game as a senior.

Originally from Montreal, Canada, Gittens played for Dawson and was also a member of the St. Vincent & the Grenadines women's national basketball team.

COURTESY HOWARD UNIVERSITY BISON SPORTS INFORMATION