Alliance University

Rashidi Aikens enters his fifth season as the Head Coach at his alma mater. He has brought respect back to the women’s basketball program by helping the team make the playoffs two times in his first four years. Under his supervision the team has also improved in the classroom garnering over a 3.10 gpa. During his tenure as assistant coach, Aikens was on staff with the program from 1997 to 2012. Over those years he assisted in leading the program to a pair of NCCAA East Region Championships (01, 09) and a Central Athletic Collegiate Conference regular-season and tournament title in 2009-10. This successful campaign led to the program’s first appearance in the NCAA tournament (21-12 overall).

After his time on the hillside, Aikens served as the Head Women's Basketball Coach at Mercy College, where he amassed the eighth-most wins in program history. He also mentored a pair of All-East Coast Conference selections and served as assistant athletic director, supervisor for the school's athletic work study program and fitness center director.

Aikens then moved on from Mercy College to become assistant coach at LIU Post. During his tenure he assisted in the development of several All-East Coast Conference and All Met selections. In his final season at LIU Post he assisted in the program earning the regular season championship, with a 22-8 season that lead to a NCAA tournament berth. 

Aikens also serves as the Head Coach for the Empire State Storm 12u team.  He has coached several teams in the program. He has won 46 Tournament Championships. He holds an impressive record with 181 wins with a 72.1 winning percentage. 

Aikens holds numerous certifications over his coaching career, including merits from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Aerobics and Fitness Association of America Certified Personal Trainer (AFFA).

Alliance University’s Director of Athletics Keith Davie says, “We are extremely pleased to bring Rashidi back to Alliance University because of his commitment to seeing students have a transformational experience athletically, academically and spiritually. His strengths in recruitment, player preparation and conditioning and his passion for the game of basketball make him a perfect fit for our program at this time. Coach Aikens believes that being successful is the end product achieved by doing right things on a daily basis. We are excited to see the direction that Coach Aikens will take the women’s basketball program.”