Orono, Maine -- On July 29, University of Maine women's basketball head coach Richard Barron announced that former assistant coach Jhasmin Player is returning to the staff. Player will serve as the Director of Player Development and Community Relations and be in charge of all program operations.

"I am thrilled to be able to bring Jhasmin back," said Barron. "Jhas was a valuable and well respected member of our staff and our players benefited greatly from her experience. Now, after a second tour of professional basketball, she will be back to mentor a young but talented team. Equally important, Jhas loved her time in Maine and chose to return which speaks volumes about what a wonderful community we have at UMaine."

Player spent three seasons (2011-13) as an assistant on the UMaine staff before returning to Poland for her second professional basketball stint. Player also spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons overseas in professional basketball, spending 2009 playing in Portugal and a 2010 season in Spain.

"UMaine was great to me the first time around and it remained in my heart after I left," said Player. "When the opportunity arose for me to return it was something I could not pass up. I was here (Maine) in the beginning stages when the program began its turnaround. I believed in and had faith in Coach Barron, the staff and the players and am excited to rejoin the program when it is on the up and to continue to be a part of the growth. I'm looking forward to working with a great staff and great players and seeing the entire athletic department thrive this year."

Player will return to the UMaine community where she spent the 2011-13 seasons working with individual skill development as well as serving as the team's liaison to strength and conditioning and the equipment and scout team director. Player helped recruit in Maine's nine-member 2012 class which was ranked as the No. 36 class that year by Blue Star Basketball and produced a pair of America East regular season championships.

A 2009 graduate of Baylor University, Player was a four-year member for the Bears' basketball team, earning captain honors for her junior and senior seasons. At Baylor, Player guided the team to four NCAA tournament appearances and a 2009 Big 12 tournament championship. Individually, Player was named to the Big 12 All-Tournament team in 2009 and also earned Big 12 All-Defensive Team and Second-Team All-Conference honors during her collegiate career.

-UMaine-