YOUNG HARRIS, Ga. | Following an extensive national search, Young Harris College Interim Director of Athletics Jennifer Rushton announced Lindsey Huffman as the head women's basketball coach for the Mountain Lions.
 
"I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Lindsey Huffman to Young Harris College," said Rushton. "We set out to identify a coach with a specific skill set and we found exactly what we were looking for in coach Huffman. She is a proven winner- both as a player and head coach. We are so fortunate to have her lead this program into the future."
 
Huffman comes to the Enchanted Valley after spending the past seven seasons as head coach of Reinhardt University in Waleska, Georgia. Huffman led the Eagles to a 137-88 record (.609 winning percentage) and Reinhardt earned three trips to the NAIA Division II National Tournament.
 
Huffman will be formally introduced to the Young Harris community with a meet and greet April 25 at 4 p.m. in the Hatcher Dining Room located in the Rollins Campus Center.
 
"I would first like to thank Dr. Tom Isherwood, Dr. Kina Mallard and Bill Popp for giving me the opportunity to be a head coach seven years ago," said Huffman.  "I will forever be grateful for the support and family I found at Reinhardt University.
 
"I am so excited and grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Young Harris family and community," said Huffman. "I knew this was a special place as soon as I stepped foot on campus.  I can't wait to get to work with the team, the faculty, and all of the people that make Young Harris great.  I want to thank Dr. Van Horn, Jennifer Rushton, and the search committee for giving me the opportunity to lead the women's basketball program to new successes on and off the basketball court."
 
Huffman turned around the women's basketball program at Reinhardt. In four seasons prior to her arrival, the Eagles had a combined record of 49-75. She led Reinhardt to Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament title and a trip to nationals in her first season in 2013.  Huffman led the Eagles to back-to-back AAC regular-season titles and trips to the national tournament in 2017 and 2018. Huffman was named the AAC Coach of the Year in 2017 and 2018 as the Eagles won more than 25 games each season.
 
Her Reinhardt teams have consistently been ranked in the top 10 in NAIA Division II statistics in scoring defense and team defensive field goal percentage.  In the classroom, the Eagles have graduated 24 academic all-conference players and produced a cumulative team GPA of 3.2 or higher for seven consecutive years.
 
Prior to coming to Reinhardt, Huffman got her coaching start as a graduate assistant women's basketball coach at the University of North Georgia. She then spent a season as the assistant varsity girls' basketball coach at Roswell High School, before returning to UNG for three seasons as an assistant women's basketball coach.
 
The Woodstock, Georgia, native is currently Etowah High School's leading scorer and is ranked within the top 20 in career points in the state of Georgia. As a standout point guard, Huffman earned a NCAA Division I scholarship to Brigham Young University. After a year at BYU and multiple knee injuries, Huffman transferred back home to North Georgia where she finished out her career and helped lead UNG to a 23-4 record and the regular season Peach Belt Conference title in UNG's first year at NCAA Division II level.
 
Huffman earned her bachelor's degree in physical education and a master's degree in education from North Georgia.
 
What they are saying about Lindsey Huffman
 
University of North Georgia head Women's Basketball Coach Buffie Burson: "Lindsey Huffman is a rising star in women's basketball! Her energy and passion for her players and the game will make a positive impact on Young Harris women's basketball for years to come. Welcome back to the Peach Belt Coach Huffman!"
 
University of North Georgia Director of Athletics Linsday Reeves: "Lindsey was both a fantastic player and assistant coach while at UNG. It has been a blessing to watch Lindsey mature over the years and I know this is an outstanding opportunity for both Lindsey and Young Harris College. She is going to bring passion and enthusiasm to the program which will generate lots of excitement and success for the Mountain Lions fans In the future."
 
Former Reinhardt University men's basketball coach Jason Gillespie: "I worked with coach Huffman for the past seven years as the head coach of the Reinhardt men's basketball team. Young Harris is not only getting an extremely high quality coach with an outstanding basketball mind, but a phenomenal person as well. Young Harris made a great call in hiring her."
 
Milligan College Head Women's Basketball Coach Rich Aubrey:" I've always enjoyed competing against Lindsey's teams. They are always well-prepared, and they compete from jump ball to the buzzer. She will definitely bring energy and passion wherever she coaches."
 
Lindsey Wilson Head Women's Basketball Coach John Wethington: "Young Harris College is getting a great coach and she will represent Young Harris well on and off the court. She really knows the game of basketball and her teams has always played hard."