CARROLLTON, Ga. - UWG head women's basketball coach Joanna Reitz has added a familiar face to her 2025-26 coaching staff, announcing today the addition of Luke Huddleston as Assistant Coach and Director of Operations.
A UWG alum who earned two degrees during his time in Carrollton, Huddleston was a graduate assistant for UWG women's basketball in the 2020-21 season.
"I'm excited to welcome Luke back to West Georgia! His love and passion for this place was evident from our very first contact and his enthusiasm will be infectious in our program," said Reitz. "He is a jack of all trades and we needed that versatility for this position. He's proven himself in scouting, player development, and recruiting in addition to his strong skill sets in organization and communication."
After finishing up his Master's degree at UWG, Huddleston's first post was an assistant coach on staff at LaGrange College in 2021-22 before assistant coach stops at Pittsburg State in Kansas for two seasons and then most recently returned to his home state to spend the 2024-25 season at Columbus State.
"I am extremely grateful and excited to back in the UWG family," said Huddleston. "Being an alum of the University of West Georgia, UWG and the women's basketball program hold a special place in my heart. Having the opportunity to get back to where my passion for coaching started is an awesome full circle moment for me. Every aspect of returning to campus felt like coming home and I can't wait to get this new chapter started."
Last season at Columbus State, the Cougars went 21-9 and reached the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament. Under Huddleston's tutelage, Olonna Rawls was named the Peach Belt Defensive Player of the Year and two other Cougars were named All-PBC.
At LaGrange, Huddleston was part of a staff who coached the Panthers to a 15-10 record and finished third in their division. Over two seasons at Pitt State, the Gorillas went 47-16 combined making two appearances in the NCAA Division II Tournament while claiming an MIAA Tournament Championship in year two. In total, Pitt State had seven All-MIAA selections in Huddleston's two seasons.
Huddleston earned his bachelor's degree in sport management from UWG in 2018 while interning for UWG women's basketball. He then finished up his master's degree in sport management from UWG in 2022.
"He is ready to hit the ground running to finish out our spring recruiting class and preparing for summer workouts and camps and I'm really glad to have him on our staff," Reitz concluded.
