"Patience is a virtue" is a common phrase that newly named women's basketball associate head coach Kerry Cremeans knows well.
Cremeans, who has the longest tenure on head coach Nell Fortner's staff, received the promotion on Aug. 24.
"I am really pleased to be able to name Kerry my associate head coach," Fortner said. "She is a tremendous basketball coach, and there is no question she would make a fantastic head coach, if that's what she wants to do. I am fortunate that we enjoy working together and have a great working relationship."
The Ohio native is going into her eighth year with Fortner and sixth at Auburn.
Cremeans has worked with guards on the team, and was the team's recruiting coordinator.
She has recruited several top-ranked players, including WNBA picks DeWanna Bonner and Whitney Boddie, as well as seven other WNBA players.
"They're very consistent, probably the most consistent coaches as far as phone calls and mail," said sophomore point guard and returning starter Morgan Toles. "I got so much mail from Auburn, it's ridiculous. Coach Cremeans is a great recruiter. She had so many good things to say about coach Fortner."
Cremeans has eight years of experience outside of working with Fortner.
Her 16-year coaching career began after playing for the Florida Gators, where she lettered all four years of college.
After leading the Gators to its first two NCAA Tournament appearances, she took a job in Lexington, Ky., as a graduate assistant for the University of Kentucky in 1994.
"Kerry has a great knowledge and experience of the game and has been an excellent recruiter for us," Fortner said. "I trust her implicitly, and she does a tremendous job with so many things."
After two years with the Wildcats, Cremeans left the SEC for the Big Ten. Fortner, then at Purdue, came knocking and turned the graduate assistant into an assistant coach.
While at Purdue, Cremeans served for three coaches. In 1999, the Boilermakers won the national championship.
"The chemistry of the team we had that year was unbelievable," Cremeans said about the title-winning team. "The whole year was miraculous really. It was just a ride that was indescribable. It is definitely a very special place in my heart. It's one that I would hope to do again."
While at Purdue, the team won Big Ten regular season championships in 1997, 1999, 2001 and 2002.
The team also won the Big Ten Tournament in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2003.
After a one-year tenure at her alma mater, Cremeans packed her bags for the Plains.
Since 2004, Cremeans and Fortner have put together successful seasons, including a regular season SEC championship in 2009.
"It has been an honor to work with Nell these last six years at Auburn," Cremeans said. "It will be an even greater honor to continue working with her in the future. She has a great vision for the Auburn women's basketball program, and I am excited to be a part of it."
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