MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois women's basketball head coach JD Gravina announced the hiring of three assistant coaches for his staff. The Leathernecks' first-year head coach hired Kerry Juhlin, Tiffany Coppage and Seth Minter as full-time assistant coaches. Gravina also announced that Jessie Biggs will return as graduate assistant coach.

No stranger to the Leathernecks, Juhlin spent the last two years on staff working towards her master's degree. During her time at Western she worked with academic progress, game and practice preparation, recruiting and day-to-day office operations. During her two years she had two all-conference performers, including the 2011 Summit League 'Newcomer of the Year'.

Prior to joining the Leathernecks, Juhlin spent two years as an assistant coach at Loras College where her duties included: recruiting coordinator, travel, film exchange, camps, strength/conditioning and academic progress. A former player at Drake, Juhlin finished her bachelor's degree at Wisconsin where she worked for two years as a student assistant coach.

"Coaches don't usually retain assistants when they take a new job, but as I got to know Kerry I saw in her the exact characteristics I was looking for in an assistant coach. She is positive, passionate, organized, motivated, and intelligent," said Gravina. "I'm looking forward to unlocking her potential as a coach and increasing her responsibilities. I'm very thankful she committed to staying at Western Illinois University."

Coppage spent the 2010-11 season at Wichita State as a graduate assistant coach, part of the Shockers' WNIT squad. A member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and Black Coaches Association (BCA), she assisted with video breakdown, day-to-day office operations, practice preparation, team travel and recruiting visits.

In 2010, Coppage worked with the Missouri Valley Blazers U-16 AAU team. The team won two championships and turned in five 'Top 3' finishes while producing seven Division I signees. After spending two years at Fort Scott Community College as a student-athlete she finished her playing career at Missouri State. A two-year team captain for the Lady Bears, Coppage started both seasons and maintained a minimum 3.0 GPA her entire career.

"Tiffany's personality won me over from the beginning of the process. She is one of the most energetic people I have ever met. She worked under Jody Adams at Wichita State, a coach I have a ton of respect for. Her mentor Kristy Guffey is one of the best recruiting coordinators in the Midwest," said Gravina. "Both of these coaches worked to develop Tiffany and give her the tools to be a successful coach. I'm excited to learn with Tiffany, and watch her develop her own coaching philosophies."

Minter joins Western after spending last year as head women's basketball coach at Culver-Stockton College. During the 2010-11 season, Minter led CSC to five conference wins, matching in one year the program's total from the previous three years combined. The offensive production increased by 9.0 points per game and the team shot 11 percent better from the field. In the classroom, the team GPA increased from a 2.70 to 3.30 and he coached four Academic All-America players.

The Wildcats also swept conference power William Jewell for the first time since the 1998-99 season. Prior to the collegiate ranks, Minter coached three years at Canton (Mo.) High School posting a 77-13 overall record (.856 winning percentage). Twice named District 'Coach of the Year', Minter and Canton HS made two trips to the state basketball tournament, finishing second in 2009 and fourth in 2010. That marked the school's first trip to state since 1977.

"Seth's experience as a head coach in high school and college is an essential attribute I was looking for when constructing my coaching staff. He is an Xs and Os guy, and I have been able to personally watch him out-coach other teams. He has been a part of the recruiting process from start to finish, and has strong local ties. He also shares my positive, constructive, and energetic coaching style," said Gravina.

Overall, Gravina is excited about his staff hires and how they will help in the development of the entire student-athlete.

"I am extremely excited about the staff's combination of experience and positive, energetic personalities. I am very thankful that we are able to hire three full time assistant coaches," said Gravina. "By December all three assistants will have attained a master's degree, demonstrating the fact that my staff and I are committed to success on the court and in the classroom."