CHARLESTON, S.C. - Charleston Southern Athletics introduced new head women's basketball coach Clarisse Garcia with an introductory press conference via Zoom on Tuesday afternoon as Coach Garcia sat down with a panel of local media members.

Charleston Southern Director of Athletics Jeff Barber announced Clarisse Garcia has been named the new head women's basketball coach on Monday afternoon.

Garcia became the 16th head women's basketball coach in program history. She takes over the Buccaneers after coaching stops at Auburn, Wake Forest, Alabama, Palm Beach Atlantic, and Stetson.

Garcia comes to the Buccaneers after spending the last five seasons at Auburn University, including serving as the program's interim head coach following the 2020-21 season. Over her time with the Tigers, Auburn advanced to the NCAA tournament twice while multiple players garnered national and conference recognition.

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What they Have to Say About Coach Garcia
"In my career, I've had the opportunity to work with some great ones with C. Vivian Stringer (Iowa), Pat Summit (Tennessee) and Terri Williams-Flourney (Auburn). What separated all of them was the same thing that separates Clarisse. If those young ladies just want a basketball experience, there's lots of places they can go. If they want to learn how to be a champion and to develop into the whole package as a basketball player and be successful off the court in life, she will hold them accountable, coach them hard, and love them harder. Athletic Director (Jeff) Barber knocked it out of the park with this hire. She is going to be somebody that Charleston Southern is going to fall in love with and she'll be great both in the community and on campus." - Bruce Pearl, Auburn head men's basketball coach

"Clarisse Garcia is a great hire for Charleston Southern. You are getting a great person that will build wonderful relationship with players, parents, and staff. Clarisse will always bring a smile and a lot of energy to the program daily. I am so excited for this next chapter in her life! She is a great recruiter and works extremely hard to find talent. Clarisse is one of the best in breaking down film and getting the team ready to play and compete in games. The student-athletes at Charleston Southern are getting a player's coach." – Terri Williams-Flourney, former Auburn head women's basketball coach

"Congrats to Jeff Barber and the Charleston Southern community on welcoming Clarisse Garcia as their Head Women's Basketball Coach. Clarisse is a builder with a blueprint for winning success on and off the court! She will build relationships that will allow her student-athletes to create winning habits in all facets of their life. She will bring exciting hops to CSU and the players and fans will enjoy the style of play." – Debbie Antonelli, ESPN college basketball analyst

"I could not be more excited for Clarisse and the Charleston Southern community. Over our years working together at Wake Forest, she was vitally important to our program's success and helped grow it into what it is today. Throughout her career, she has not only been a great teacher, coach, and mentor for young women in the game of basketball, but someone who is invested in their lives outside of the game. Charleston Southern is getting a proven leader not only for the basketball program, but for the University and surrounding community." – Jen Hoover, Wake Forest head women's basketball coach