Langford Adds Pierce and Hazell to Staff
May 14, 2026 | Women's Basketball
NEW ORLEANS – Tulane women's basketball head coach Ashley Langford has announced a pair of new additions to her coaching staff ahead of the upcoming 2026-27 campaign with Sam Pierce and Jamia Hazell joining the Green Wave as assistant coaches. Pierce makes his way to Uptown after four seasons at Delaware, and Hazell is making her way to Tulane after a season as a graduate assistant at James Madison following a distinguished playing career for the Dukes. Hazell will also serve as director of player development with the Wave.
Sam Pierce spent the past four seasons with Delaware, aiding in the Blue Hens making the transition from the CAA to Conference USA last year. In Delaware's first season in CUSA, Pierce guided the program to six conference victories and a win over Kennesaw State in the CUSA Basketball Championship. This victory marked the fourth-straight season that Delaware won at least one conference tournament contest with Pierce on staff. During the 2024-25 season, the Blue Hens paced the CAA in three-point percentage (36) and field goal percentage (41).
Prior to Delaware, Pierce spent five seasons as the associate head coach at Appalachian State. He assisted in the Mountaineers making a run to claim the WBI title in the 2018-19 campaign and coached six All-Sun Belt selections. Before going to App State, Pierce spent three seasons as an assistant coach with Akron, handling the program's defensive and player development, practice planning, and JuCo recruiting. He developed five All-MAC honorees, including MAC Player of the Year Sina King. With the Zips, he assisted in the program making back-to-back WNIT appearances.
Before his time in Akron, Pierce founded a basketball development program coaching boys and girls for seven years from 2007-14 in Altoona, Pennsylvania, called PA Pride. He had coaching stops at Robert Morris as the director of men's basketball operations (2006-07), Altoona Area High School as assistant boy's basketball coach (2005-06), and Penn State University Altoona as assistant men's basketball coach (2003-05). Pierce was a four-year member of the men's basketball team at Slippery Rock University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in sport management and business administration in 2002.
"Sam is a seasoned veteran with an elite basketball mind," Langford said. "His defensive approach and analytical understanding of the game set him apart in this field. His experience, both on and off the court, will be an invaluable asset to our program."
Jamia Hazell comes to Tulane after a season as a graduate assistant at her alma mater, James Madison. Making the transition from the floor to the bench, Hazell assisted the Dukes to a 26-9 overall record and 14-4 Sun Belt clip during the 2025-26 campaign. James Madison defeated Troy 69-52 to claim the Sun Belt Conference Championship, earning an appearance in the NCAA Tournament where the Dukes battled Kentucky.
Before transitioning to coaching, Hazell was a standout for the Dukes for five seasons. She finished her career as the program's all-time leader in games played (157) and tied for sixth in games started (120). She scored 1,373 points and averaged 8.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 25.7 minutes per game across her career. She was named to the 2021 CAA All-Rookie Team after posting 9.9 points and 2.6 assists per game during her freshman campaign.
No stranger to success, Hazell brings a championship pedigree and postseason familiarity to Tulane. Across her time as both a player and coach at James Madison, she aided in the Dukes winning two conference championships with a pair of subsequent appearances in the NCAA Tournament. These came across two different leagues, as she guided the Dukes to a CAA title as a player before coaching the team to the Sun Belt championship this past season. In addition, the program appeared in the WBIT in back-to-back campaigns across her final two playing seasons with the Dukes winning a pair of games in the 2024-25 tournament to advance to the quarterfinals.
In joining the Green Wave staff, Hazell will reunite with Langford as Hazell's 2020-21 freshman season was Langford's final on the James Madison coaching staff, where she helped recruit Hazell. The two crossed paths again in the 2023-24 season when Hazell played against her former coach in the first round of the WBIT, in which Langford's Seawolves picked up the win in her final season at Stony Brook before making her way back to Tulane.
Hazell earned her bachelor's degree in individualized studies with a concentration in entrepreneurship and business management. In 2026, she added her master's in education in human resource development and learning design technology certificate.
"As long as I can remember, Jamia has always dreamed of becoming a coach," said Langford. "I'm beyond excited that her first opportunity will be with us and the Tulane community. Her work ethic, drive, and championship experience will make an immediate impact on our players and our program."
Pierce and Hazell join Harlyn Wyatt as first-year additions to Langford's coaching staff. They round out a staff that also features the returning Donnie Stith, Shyan Mwai, and Johnny Flores.
TICKETS
Tickets for the football, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, and baseball campaigns can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL TULANE ATHLETICS APP
Download the official mobile app of Tulane Athletics. Now, you can stay in touch with the Green Wave anytime and anywhere on your Android or iOS mobile device.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For behind-the-scenes coverage, follow Tulane women's basketball (@GreenWaveWBB) on X, Facebook and Instagram.
GREEN WAVE CLUB
Giving to the Green Wave Club provides Tulane Athletics with the resources student‑athletes need to excel in competition and in the classroom. Your support directly improves the lives of current and future Green Wave student‑athletes and enhances Tulane's competitiveness in intercollegiate athletics. Make a gift today by calling (504) 865‑5356, emailing greenwaveclub@tulane.edu, or visiting GreenWaveClub.com.
Sam Pierce spent the past four seasons with Delaware, aiding in the Blue Hens making the transition from the CAA to Conference USA last year. In Delaware's first season in CUSA, Pierce guided the program to six conference victories and a win over Kennesaw State in the CUSA Basketball Championship. This victory marked the fourth-straight season that Delaware won at least one conference tournament contest with Pierce on staff. During the 2024-25 season, the Blue Hens paced the CAA in three-point percentage (36) and field goal percentage (41).
Prior to Delaware, Pierce spent five seasons as the associate head coach at Appalachian State. He assisted in the Mountaineers making a run to claim the WBI title in the 2018-19 campaign and coached six All-Sun Belt selections. Before going to App State, Pierce spent three seasons as an assistant coach with Akron, handling the program's defensive and player development, practice planning, and JuCo recruiting. He developed five All-MAC honorees, including MAC Player of the Year Sina King. With the Zips, he assisted in the program making back-to-back WNIT appearances.
Before his time in Akron, Pierce founded a basketball development program coaching boys and girls for seven years from 2007-14 in Altoona, Pennsylvania, called PA Pride. He had coaching stops at Robert Morris as the director of men's basketball operations (2006-07), Altoona Area High School as assistant boy's basketball coach (2005-06), and Penn State University Altoona as assistant men's basketball coach (2003-05). Pierce was a four-year member of the men's basketball team at Slippery Rock University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in sport management and business administration in 2002.
"Sam is a seasoned veteran with an elite basketball mind," Langford said. "His defensive approach and analytical understanding of the game set him apart in this field. His experience, both on and off the court, will be an invaluable asset to our program."
Jamia Hazell comes to Tulane after a season as a graduate assistant at her alma mater, James Madison. Making the transition from the floor to the bench, Hazell assisted the Dukes to a 26-9 overall record and 14-4 Sun Belt clip during the 2025-26 campaign. James Madison defeated Troy 69-52 to claim the Sun Belt Conference Championship, earning an appearance in the NCAA Tournament where the Dukes battled Kentucky.
Before transitioning to coaching, Hazell was a standout for the Dukes for five seasons. She finished her career as the program's all-time leader in games played (157) and tied for sixth in games started (120). She scored 1,373 points and averaged 8.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 25.7 minutes per game across her career. She was named to the 2021 CAA All-Rookie Team after posting 9.9 points and 2.6 assists per game during her freshman campaign.
No stranger to success, Hazell brings a championship pedigree and postseason familiarity to Tulane. Across her time as both a player and coach at James Madison, she aided in the Dukes winning two conference championships with a pair of subsequent appearances in the NCAA Tournament. These came across two different leagues, as she guided the Dukes to a CAA title as a player before coaching the team to the Sun Belt championship this past season. In addition, the program appeared in the WBIT in back-to-back campaigns across her final two playing seasons with the Dukes winning a pair of games in the 2024-25 tournament to advance to the quarterfinals.
In joining the Green Wave staff, Hazell will reunite with Langford as Hazell's 2020-21 freshman season was Langford's final on the James Madison coaching staff, where she helped recruit Hazell. The two crossed paths again in the 2023-24 season when Hazell played against her former coach in the first round of the WBIT, in which Langford's Seawolves picked up the win in her final season at Stony Brook before making her way back to Tulane.
Hazell earned her bachelor's degree in individualized studies with a concentration in entrepreneurship and business management. In 2026, she added her master's in education in human resource development and learning design technology certificate.
"As long as I can remember, Jamia has always dreamed of becoming a coach," said Langford. "I'm beyond excited that her first opportunity will be with us and the Tulane community. Her work ethic, drive, and championship experience will make an immediate impact on our players and our program."
Pierce and Hazell join Harlyn Wyatt as first-year additions to Langford's coaching staff. They round out a staff that also features the returning Donnie Stith, Shyan Mwai, and Johnny Flores.
TICKETS
Tickets for the football, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, and baseball campaigns can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL TULANE ATHLETICS APP
Download the official mobile app of Tulane Athletics. Now, you can stay in touch with the Green Wave anytime and anywhere on your Android or iOS mobile device.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For behind-the-scenes coverage, follow Tulane women's basketball (@GreenWaveWBB) on X, Facebook and Instagram.
GREEN WAVE CLUB
Giving to the Green Wave Club provides Tulane Athletics with the resources student‑athletes need to excel in competition and in the classroom. Your support directly improves the lives of current and future Green Wave student‑athletes and enhances Tulane's competitiveness in intercollegiate athletics. Make a gift today by calling (504) 865‑5356, emailing greenwaveclub@tulane.edu, or visiting GreenWaveClub.com.
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