Bradley University Athletics

Former Temple standout Christena Hamilton joined the Bradley Women's Basketball coaching staff in May 2016 and serves as the team's recruiting coordinator.

Hamilton came to The Hilltop after spending the previous five seasons as an assistant coach at Winthrop.   During her time in Rock, Hill, S.C., the Eagles posted four winnings seasons and owned a 57-39 (.593) record in Big South Conference play.

In her first two seasons on The Hilltop, Hamilton has helped the Braves improve their overall win total in both campaigns.  The 2016-17 saw Leti Lerma, who was the program’s first First-Team All-MVC selection since 2008-09, become Bradley’s all-time leading rebounder.  In addition, her recruiting efforts have paid off with the Braves producing a pair of MVC All-Freshman Team selections in Chelsea Brackmann (2016-17) and Gabi Haack (2017-18).

Hamilton has stayed busy on the recruiting path as Bradley adds six newcomers in 2018-19.  Five freshmen and junior college transfer Ellisha Davis join a returning cast which has posted an improved win total in three consecutive seasons (first time in program history) and features the top three scorers from 2017-18.   

Prior to Bradley, Hamilton helped mentor a three-time Big South Conference Player of the Year during her tenure at Winthrop, a pair of conference Defensive Player of the Year winners and the 2012-13 Big South Freshman of the Year along with five first-team and four second-team all-conference performers over her five seasons.  Winthrop finished in the top four of the Big South in four of her five seasons, including the 2013-14 season, which culminated with the team’s first NCAA Tournament appearance and 24-9 overall record.

Winthrop, which posted an 80-47 (.630) overall record in Hamilton’s first four seasons, also advanced to the WNIT in 2012-13 and finished second in the Big South.

A native of Coatesville, Penn., Hamilton ventured into college coaching as an assistant at Daytona State College in Daytona, Fla., and also has three years of prep experience; serving as head coach at her alma mater Coatesville High School.  She led Coatesville to a 24-7 record in her first season as head coach.

The younger sister of former NBA star Richard “Rip” Hamilton, she graduated cum laude from Temple in 2004 with a degree in business administration and went on to earn a master’s in public administration from Villanova in 2011.  Hamilton helped the Owls to two Atlantic-10 Conference regular-season titles and was an A-10 All-Tournament team selection as a senior in 2004, when she helped Temple to the tournament title and second NCAA Tournament appearance in three years.

Off the court, she serves as a board member for the Rip City Foundation which enhances lives through education and recreation with a special emphasis on healthy living.