Veteran coach Tim Valentine joins the North Carolina Central women's basketball staff beginning with the 2025-26 season.
Valentine is well-respected among his peers with over 20 years of coaching, player development and recruiting experience. In 2024, Valentine was named one of 50 Most Impactful Women’s Assistant Basketball Coaches in Division I by Silver Waves Media.
He is a staple on the Division I women’s basketball level, having coached at several programs as the lead assistant. Before arriving at NCCU, Valentine was Associate Head Coach at Alabama A&M in the 2024-25 season. The season before, he was at Northeastern an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator during the 2022-23 season.
Valentine’s coaching career includes numerous highlights. At Northeastern, he coached Derin Erogen, an All-CAA First Team selection, and Deja Bristol, the CAA Sixth-Man Player of the Year. He was instrumental in the development of graduate student-athlete Jamiya Braxton as Northeastern won a share of the CAA regular-season championship.
Before arriving at Northeastern, Valentine spent six years as Associate Head Coach and recruiting coordinator at Hampton (2014-2020). In his first season, Valentine was named MEAC Assistant Coach of the Year for helping guide the Pirates to a 19-win season.
That same year, Hampton won the program’s fifth consecutive MEAC regular season crown and earned a berth in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). The Pirates reached the second round of the WNIT.
In his second season, guard Malia Tate-DeFreitas earned her second consecutive MEAC Player of the Year award and forward Kaylah Lupoe was a Third Team All-MEAC selection. Guard K’lynn Willis was named to the All-Rookie Team.
Hampton also captured the MEAC Tournament title in 2017 and reached the MEAC Tournament finals in 2018 during his stint with the Pirates.
At Hampton, Valentine held several roles. He assisted with practice planning in addition to organizing game plans, coordinating strength and conditioning programs and scouting opponents. Valentine also played a role in managing the team’s budget, game scheduling and game preparation management.
Prior to his time at Hampton, Valentine was an assistant at Georgetown and Elon.
In his first season with the Hoyas, Georgetown won 15 games and Sugar Rodgers was named First Team All-Big East for the fourth straight season. Rogers went on to play seven years in the WNBA.
During his tenure, Georgetown’s recruiting class was ranked No. 9 in the nation according to Blue Chip and Hoopgurlz. Heading the class was Shyla Cooper, the highest-ranking recruit in Georgetown history. Her freshman season, she was selected Big East Preseason Rookie of the Year.
In addition to his coaching duties, Valentine was the Georgetown’s liaison for potential WNBA draftees.
Before his arrival at Georgetown, Valentine spent one season as an assistant coach at Elon. He helped guide Elon to 16 wins and a 12-8 mark in the Southern Conference. Two players - Ali Ford and Kelsey Evans - were named all-conference and five players earned all-academic honors.
Prior to making a name on the Division I level, Valentine was assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Division II Saint Augustine’s from 2010-11. He also was the team’s academic administrator, study hall coordinator and strength coach. In his only season with the program, Valentine helped the Lady Falcons win 19 games, including a 12-6 record in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).
At Saint Augustine’s, Valentine coached CIAA Player of the Year Allison Sikes and CIAA Rookie of the Year Umeka Benson. Both players were CIAA All-Tournament selections, and Sikes picked up all-region and all-state honors. Her biggest accolade was winning Heritage Sports Radio Network (HSRN) Div. II National Player of the Year.
Valentine started his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater Southern Wesleyan, where he was the women’s head assistant basketball coach. While at Southern Wesleyan, Valentine was awarded the Minority Leadership Award and named Who’s Who among strength and conditioning coaches in 2009.
He entered the coaching profession as an assistant at Hillcrest High School in Simpsonville, S.C. Valentine also was a successful coach on the travel ball level, leading the South Carolina Lady Flames to the 2005 15U AAU state championship, YBOA state championship, and the Reebok Hoops and DreamsSpring Showcase.
In addition to being a successful basketball coach, Valentine is a nationally certified Nike/SPARQ trainer, developing some of the country’s top high school, collegiate and professional basketball and football players. Former North Carolina basketball stars Ivory Latta and Kenya McBee and former Clemson basketball standout James Mays were among his many clients, which included NFL players.
Valentine also runs a performance training company named Elite Speed and Strength. He is a member of the Who’s Who of Executives and Professionals for Strength and Conditioning, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), and the Black Coaches and Administrators Association.
Valentine, a native of Greenville, S.C., is married to the former Catherine Salterwhite and the couple has six children (along with four grandchildren). He is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated.
