ELON, N.C. -- The Elon University men's and women's basketball teams announced today their new assistant coaches. Head women's coach Brenda Paul has hired Lakisha Covington while head men's coach Ernie Nestor welcomes Joel Justus to his staff.

Covington comes to Elon from Saint Paul's College where she served as the assistant women's basketball coach since 2002. While in this role, Covington acted as the recruiting coordinator, travel coordinator, film exchange coach and academic advisor. Covington also held the posts of head women's volleyball and softball coach beginning in 2003. Before her time at Saint Paul's, Covington worked as the assistant women's basketball coach at Greensboro College where she was the recruiting and travel coordinator.

A 2001 graduate of Winston-Salem State University, Covington was a four-year varsity member of the basketball team and cross country team. She was named to the All-CIAA basketball team her senior season and played in the Black College All-Star Basketball Game in May of 2001. She also played volleyball during the 1998 season for the Rams. Covington was a member of the Pi Gamma Mu National Honor Society and as received academic honors. A native of Burlington, N.C., Covington is a 1997 graduate of Walter M. Williams High School.

Justus, a 2004 graduate of UNC Wilmington, was a four-year varsity letterwinner for Jerry Wainwright and Brad Brownell. During his four-year career, the Seahawks reached the NCAA Tournament twice and the NIT once. Justus served on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for all four seasons as the basketball representative. During 2003-04 he acted as the UNC Wilmington SAAC President and served as the representative to the Colonial Athletic Association.

Justus is a 2000 graduate of Mount Tabor High School in Winston-Salem, N.C. where he played for Coach Andy Muse.

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