Photo courtesy of RU Athletics – Former women’s basketball player Jayda Worthy is returning to Radford University as an assistant coach.
By Marty Gordon
NRVsports@ourvalley.org
The head women’s basketball coaches at both Virginia Tech and Radford University have added new coaches to complete their staffs for the upcoming season.
Tech added Christal Caldwell, while Radford welcomed former player Jayda Worthy back to the fold.
Head women’s basketball coach Kenny Brooks announced the addition of Christal Caldwell to the Virginia Tech women’s basketball staff Thursday morning, completing his staff of assistant coaches.
“I’m very excited about the addition of Christal Caldwell to our staff,” said Virginia Tech’s women’s head basketball coach Kenny Brooks. “I’ve known Christal for a while now and I’ve admired her work from afar as she helped recruit and develop talented players at West Virginia. Her knowledge and presence will enhance our program into the future. This hire completes our staff and I’m excited to watch the chemistry form between these talented coaches and players.”
Caldwell joins the Hokies after a three-season stint on the sidelines at her alma mater, West Virginia, where she was a 1,000-point scorer in her playing days, earning First-Team All-Big 12 accolades and leading the Mountaineers to a conference title in 2014.
She then moved on to play professionally for FIBA’s Sepsi SIC in Romania.
“I have watched Coach Brooks and the wonderful things he’s done with his staff, players and this program,” Caldwell said. “I am beyond grateful for this opportunity and excited to get to work with such a great group of people.”
Prior to her return to Morgantown, she spent two seasons at La Salle where she helped the Explorers to an incredible turnaround in 2016-17. La Salle finished the campaign with 17 victories, 12 more than the previous season.
Caldwell owns a degree in psychology from West Virginia, where she also minored in child development and communications.
Radford University’s women’s basketball head coach Mike McGuire announced the return of standout forward Jayda Worthy to the coaching staff.
“First, I want to thank Coach McGuire for this opportunity,” Worthy said. “He believed in me once as a player and now as a coach. I am truly grateful. I am so excited to be given the opportunity to come back and invest in the program that has taught me and supported me in my life. Radford is home. I’m so excited for this next chapter and ready to get started Go Highlanders!”
Worthy comes to Radford from Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Ga., where she served as a graduate assistant beginning in August 2018. She assisted in various recruiting efforts, scouted opponents, coordinated team travel, served as the academic liaison and led all player development for the post players.
As a student-athlete under the direction of Coach McGuire, Worthy was the 2018 Defensive Player of the Year, twice received All-Big South honors, was the Big South All-Freshman selection, and most recently was named to the 2010-19 Big South Conference Women’s
Basketball All-Decade Team. She helped Radford to a Big South in 2016-17 and 2017-18.
She is in the program’s record books 17 times.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Jayda back Jayda as our new assistant coach,” McGuire said. “Jayda has always been special to me as she was a part of my first recruiting class. The impact and legacy she created as a student-athlete have been pivotal in our growth as a program over the last six years. Jayda loves Radford and our women’s basketball program.
I’m excited for our current student-athletes to learn from her and what it took to become a champion at Radford,” the head Highlander said. “After coaching her, I knew Jayda would be an exceptional coach. As a player, she had tremendous basketball knowledge and valued preparation for each opponent. She will be an awesome example and mentor for our student-athletes.
“I’m also looking forward to helping Jayda grow as a college coach,” McGuire said. “She has amazing potential, and it will be a privilege to work alongside her. I know Radford fans and alumni will be excited to see Jayda back on our sideline.”
During her time in Radford, Worthy was very involved in the community, serving as a volunteer with Special Olympics, Micah’s Backpack and Our Daily Bread and taking part in numerous basketball campus.
She graduated from Radford University in May 2018 with a bachelor’s of science degree in criminal justice with a minor in sociology. She obtained her master of education in higher education leadership in May 2020.
