Nolan Wilson - Women's Basketball Coach

Nolan Wilson

Title:
Assistant Coach
Email:
n.a.wilson@tcu.edu

Nolan Wilson, one of the brightest up-and-coming coaches in college basketball, will start his second season as an assistant women's basketball coach at TCU in 2025-26.

A rising star in the profession, Wilson has coached at the highest levels of the sport ahead of his ninth year on the bench. He arrived in Fort Worth on the heels of a three-year run at Washington, where he spent two seasons as the Huskies’ director of analytics and scouting before being elevated into an assistant coaching role in 2023-24. Originally from Laredo, Texas, Wilson’s resume also reaches the NBA and WNBA. He spent a season with the Dallas Mavericks in 2019-20 and worked as an advanced scout for the Washington Mystics in conjunction with his tenure at Washington.

The addition of Wilson added to the Horned Frogs’ deep recruiting connections. Wilson played an instrumental role in the Huskies assembling back-to-back nationally ranked recruiting classes from 2023-2024, including a 2024 class that was graded 14^th overall by ESPNW. His first recruiting cycle at TCU in the spring of 2025 culminated with the addition of three-time All-American Olivia Miles and a six-player class that featured three players ranked in the top-25 of ESPN's transfer portal rankings; Miles, stretch forward Marta Suarez and 6-7 center Clara Silva.

Wilson has helped lead three teams to the NCAA Tournament over the course of his coaching career, most recently the 2024-25 TCU team that advanced to the Elite Eight and swept the Big 12 regular season and conference championships. He has coached five all-conference players in the last two seasons leading into the 2025-26 campaign.

A former two-sport D1 athlete, Wilson coaches all position groups while paying special attention to TCU's posts and the program's defensive strategy. In June of 2024, Wilson was recognized as one of the country’s "50 Most Impactful High Major Assistants" by Silver Waves Media, an honor fellow TCU assistants Xavier Lopez and Minyon Moore have also received.

TCU (2024-Present)
Wilson returned to his home state in August of 2024 following a conversation with TCU head coach Mark Campbell regarding an assistant coaching role. His arrival helped spearhead the greatest TCU men's or women's basketball season in school history and biggest turnaround in college basketball.

With Wilson patrolling the sidelines, TCU won a school record 34 games, finished an unbeaten 21-0 at home, downed nine ranked opponents and achieved the highest AP Top 25 ranking in TCU basketball history, checking in at No. 6 in the final poll. The Frogs earned a No. 2 seed in the Big Dance and returned to the Big Dance for the first time in 15 years. Notably, Wilson enabled TCU to become one of only two teams in Big 12 history to capture a league title within two seasons of finishing in last place. TCU improved its year-over win total by an NCAA-leading 13 games for the second straight season just two years after posting an 8-23 record. Wilson also saw TCU enjoy the largest increase of conference victories (12) in all of D1 basketball.

Wilson played an invaluable role in helping develop Sedona Prince into a Lisa Leslie Award top-five finalist, unanimous All-Big 12 first team selection, All-Big 12 defensive team honoree and honorable mention All-American. He also coached Big 12 Player and Newcomer of the Year Hailey Van Lith along with fellow All-Big 12 first team player Madison Conner.

Washington (2021-24)
Wilson helped Washington earn four victories over AP top-25 opponents in 2023-24, including three on the road, and earn a No. 1 seed in the WBIT. The Huskies produced a 35-30 combined overall record in Wilson’s final two seasons on Montlake. His tenure at Washington also included a WNIT semifinal run in 2022-23.

Individually, Wilson coached Dalayah Daniels to consecutive All-Pac-12 honorable mention accolades and developed Sayvia Sellers into a Pac-12 All-Freshman team talent.

Rice (2018-19, 2020-21)
Before venturing to the pacific northwest, Wilson enjoyed separate stints at Rice in 2018-19 and 2020-21. He first served as the Owls’ assistant scouting and recruiting director. Wilson’s second go-around in Houston saw him receive an assistant coaching position. In 2019-20, Wilson assisted in recruiting efforts, organized and edited film, evaluated the Owls' opponents and crafted scouting reports. His contributions helped Rice win 28 games and finish a perfect 16-0 in the Conference USA. Wilson’s return in 2020-21 vaulted the Owls to a third consecutive Conference USA title and the WNIT championship.

NBA / WNBA
At the professional level, Wilson scouted play calls for each possession in his work with the Mystics. He also diagrammed set and call frequencies for every player while assisting with player personnel tendencies and postgame reports.

Wilson was an assistant coach in player development for the Mavericks. There, he trained players such as NBA All-Star Kristaps Porzingis, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Seth Curry. He also simulated scout offense and defense and utilized RSPCT shot progression software to collect statistical shot-tracking data in his role.

Prairie View A&M
Wilson first forayed into coaching at his alma matter, Prairie View A&M, as a graduate assistant in 2017-18.

He was a two-sport standout for the Panthers, playing as both a forward for the basketball team and a defensive end in football. Wilson graduated with a bachelor of business administration and management degree in 2017 and completed his MBA at Prairie View in 2020.

Personal
Wilson’s wife, the former Maya Hawkins, was the starting point guard for Rice all four years from 2013-17. She graduated as the Owls’ school record holder in 3-pointers and free throw percentage and currently serves as a character coach and leadership mentor with the TCU Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Together, they have a son, Maceo, and are excitedly expecting a second child in December.