Norfolk native Patrena Trice-Hill is in her second year as an assistant women's basketball coach at Norfolk State. Trice-Hill’s primary responsibilities include team travel, recruiting and player development, with an emphasis on the Spartan post players.
Trice-Hill helped make an immediate impact in her first year on the coaching staff in 2013-14. The Spartans went 8-8 in MEAC play, their first .500 or better mark in league play in 12 years. Trice-Hill also helped tutor Spartan forward Rachel Gordon, who became NSU’s first All-MEAC first-team selection since 2001-02. Gordon also became the program’s all-time leading rebounder last year after pacing the MEAC with 11.7 boards per game.
Trice-Hill has 12 years of assistant college coaching experience and has coached programs in the ACC, CAA and MEAC, among others. As a player, Trice-Hill was a four-year star at North Carolina State and later spent 14 years playing professionally, including a stint in the WNBA.
Trice-Hill comes to NSU from Columbia University, where she served on staff for the 2012-13 season. Prior to her stint at Columbia, Trice-Hill spent two seasons on the bench at VCU. She helped the Rams to a pair of WNIT appearances, including a berth in the 2012 WNIT Sweet 16.
Trice-Hill went to VCU after a one-year stint at Shaw University (2009-10). There, she helped recruit the class that formed the nucleus of three straight CIAA title teams and the 2012 NCAA Division II national championship squad.
Prior to Shaw, Trice-Hill spent five seasons as an assistant at her alma mater, N.C. State, under Hall of Fame coach Kay Yow. During her tenure at N.C. State, the Wolfpack advanced to three NCAA Tournaments, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2007, and made the WNIT semifinals in 2008.
Trice-Hill got her coaching start at NSU’s MEAC rival, Hampton University, from 2002-04. The Lady Pirates won a pair of MEAC titles in her tenure, advancing to the NCAA Tournament both times.
Trice-Hill moved into the coaching ranks after a legendary playing career. She was a four-year All-ACC member at N.C. State, where she helped the Wolfpack win ACC titles in 1985 and 1987 and four straight NCAA berths. Trice-Hill was a 1986 finalist for the Wade Trophy, which honors the top NCAA Division I collegiate women’s basketball player. She graduated with 1,761 career points and 984 career rebounds and had her jersey No. 15 retired.
After N.C. State, Trice-Hill played professionally for 14 seasons. She spent one season with the WNBA’s New York Liberty, helping the squad to the league finals. She also played professionally in France, Spain, Italy and Brazil.
Trice-Hill earned her bachelor’s degree from N.C. State in speech communications in 1987. She and her husband, Derrick Hill, have one daughter, Kiana Trice-Hill.
