Kourtney Coleman part of rebuilding process at Troy University

article from SouthReporter.com

Kourtney Coleman’s freshman year on the basketball court at Troy University was indeed a new experience.

The 2011 graduate of H.W. Byers was a member of three state championship teams with the Lady Lions.

Last season her new team, the Lady Trojans, finished 2-26.

“You just live with it and learn from it,” Coleman said about her first year at the Division I college in Troy, Ala. “And you hope you can be better next season.”

There was plenty of attrition after the disappointing campaign – some to graduation and others transferring.

“I will definitely be back at Troy,” Coleman said. “We’ve signed two freshmen and four junior college players. We will have a new coach and a new arena.”



Chanda Rigby, who had loads of success at Pensacola, Fla., State College, is taking over leadership of the Lady Trojans. And the new 6,000-seat Trojan Arena will be ready for the 2012-13 season.

“Hopefully, we can begin a new era for the program and turn things around,” Coleman said.

She averaged 2.4 points and 2.7 rebounds in her freshman season. She played in 27 of 28 games with 17 starts. She had a season-high 12 rebounds in her first career game versus Winthrop on Nov. 13, 2011, and a season-high 8 points at Auburn on Nov. 30, 2011.

“My parents (Sylvester and Shonta Kilgore) always told me to always put forth my best effort, and I can say I did that,” Coleman said.

This year the sophomore’s goal is to earn a spot in the Troy starting lineup and become more of an outside threat. Last year, at 6-foot tall, she had to play more inside.

Coleman said the transition from high school to college was tough.

“At the college level, everybody is as good as you, if not better,” she said.

“I’m enjoying being at home some this summer, because I missed my family, too.

“But my teammates (at Troy) are great. I’ve built up a new group of people whom I can depend on. I’m around good people – just like I was in high school.”

Coleman is majoring in sports and fitness management with a minor in broadcast journalism. She will be going back to Troy, located in south Alabama, on August 13.