WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Piedmont International University Athletic Director Greg Eidschun has named former North High School Eagles basketball player Toccara Tatum as the school's new head women's basketball coach.
Tatum comes to Piedmont after three years at Lexington High School (N.C.), where she served as a physical education teacher and the head varsity girls basketball coach.
According to a Piedmont International University release in June, Tatum is a dedicated and passionate coach who strives to empower student-athletes to reach new heights with high principles both on and off the court.
Tatum has 16 years of experience with girls basketball, both as a coach and administratively. In 2010, she founded the Winston-Salem Lady Warcats in the Women's Blue Chip Basketball League. She played for the league for two years before becoming the associate head coach and director of operations. She led the team to a 27-20 record with two national playoff appearances in the WBCBL.
Tatum then worked her way up the ranks and was named the Carolinas regional director from 2014 until 2016 and is currently the Atlantic regional director.
"I'm very excited to play a vital role in the development of these young ladies [at Piedmont]," Tatum said. "I believe that athletics can be used to prepare student-athletes as well-rounded professionals for the future."
Tatum earned her bachelor of science in business administration, with an emphasis in marketing, from Ferrum College in 2005. She then earned a master of science in sports management with a concentration in athletic administration from Southern New Hampshire University.
Prior to her coaching career, Tatum was a distinguished player when she was at Ferrum, receiving a host of awards including WBCA Division III All American, 2005 NCAA Division III National Assist Leader, USA South Player of the Year and VaSID All-State Women's Basketball First Team.
In 2014, Tatum was named to the USA South 50th Anniversary Women's Basketball Team.
After a strong collegiate basketball playing career, Tatum was selected to play for the San Jose Spiders in the Women's National Basketball League in 2005. Unfortunately, the team folded before she could play her first season for the Spiders.
In 2006, she played for the Southern Legends out of Orangeburg for two years before moving to North Carolina.
Tatum resides in Winston-Salem with her daughter (Diamond) and son (William). She is a member of United Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem.
At the conclusion of her recent PIU Open Gym talent showcase, Tatum signed her first recruit to the Lady Bruins program, inking a guard from Augusta, Ga.
The PIU Lady Bruins posted a 6-10 record this past season.
The Piedmont International men's basketball team is coached since 2016 by former Dallas Mavericks first-round draft pick Josh Howard, who played 10 seasons in the NBA as a small forward/shooting guard for the Mavericks, Wizards, Jazz and Timberwolves.
Piedmont International competes in contests under the sanctioning of the National Christian College Athletic Association.
Piedmont International is a private Bible college and graduate school, formerly known as Piedmont Bible Institute, Piedmont Bible College and Piedmont Baptist College. On June 1, John Wesley University of High Point, N.C. officially merged with Piedmont International University.

- The Times and Democrat

WBCBL Teams Partnering for the Community
June 2018,
Conway, Arkansas

Over the weekend, The Conway Bearcats and the Dallas Diesel of the Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League (WBCBL,) held a FREE Youth Basketball Clinic for boys and girls ages 5-13 at the Faulkner County Boys and Girls Club. The attendance was larger than anticipated. As many as 45+ boys and girls quickly fill the gym with their parents and siblings, eagerly lined up to check-in.

Local professional trainer, TJ Jones of Nothing But Net Skills Academy, was on site to give hands-on demonstrations and instruction to attendees. As an added treat, Conway Bearcats’ and WBCBL veteran Marquita McFarland and International Professional Women’s Basketball Player, Layla Schwarz-McCray of the Dallas Diesel, worked closely with the youth campers to share their expert knowledge of the game of basketball.

“We were pleasantly surprised with the number of kids that came out to participate. At first we are only expecting maybe 20 to 25 kids, but ended up with almost 50! This was a great event and turnout to introduce the Conway Bearcats organization and the opportunities we offer in community sports” - Conway Bearcats Youth Coaches: Derrick McCray and Minister James Franklin-Leavy.

The Dallas Diesel and Conway Bearcats founder, Willie McCray Jr. directed the camp activities and competitions to keep not only the boys and girls active but also to engage and encourage parental participation as well.

"This is awesome! A gym full of kids and parents enjoying themselves and learning new things about themselves and the game of basketball, it’s awesome! I’m glad that we could bring multiple organizations together for a common cause and for it to flow as well as it did. We are definitely looking for to more events like this in the future.” – Willie McCray, (WBCBL founder & president)
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More information about the Conway Bearcats can be found at: www.ConwayBearcats.com