Taft College Athletic Director Kanoe Bandy has announced the hiring of Daniel Nelms as the Cougars' women's basketball head coach.

"I am excited to have Daniel Nelms as our new women's basketball coach," said Bandy. "Daniel is from the community college system and will bring local knowledge to the program."

Nelms comes to TC after serving as an assistant coach at nearby Porterville College for the past three seasons. He attended Monache High School in Porterville and is a 2009 graduate of Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego.

"It feels great to be the named the new head coach of the women's basketball program at Taft College," said Nelms. "I am looking forward to the upcoming season and many more in the years to come."

Nelms is confident that his recent experience at Porterville will provide the building blocks to success at TC.

"I learned a lot while I was at Porterville College," he said. "Being there has helped me understand the CCCAA and the Central Valley Conference along with the behind the scenes work that go on for a college program."

This season will definitely be challenging for the new coach. With the health and safety concerns of student-athletes and staff because of the pandemic as well as getting a late start to recruiting, Nelms faces an uphill battle as his program works its way back to the court.

"Every season for every team should be about winning conference," Nelms said. "This season is about adapting and overcoming as well. There is a lot going on right now that we have to adapt to.
 
"I want to have a program that the community and the school can be proud to support," he added. "I want the program to be about hard work both on and off the court and a program that people will come out and enjoy watching."

Nelms replaces Carly Flowers who stepped down from the position after four seasons. Taft closed out the 2019-20 season with a 2-25 overall record and went 0-12 in a very difficult Central Valley Conference.

According to the current CCCAA contingency plan, the 2020-21 women's basketball season is scheduled to open in mid-January with competition beginning in February.