University of North Carolina - Charlotte Athletics issued the following announcement on Aug. 6.
Dara Pearson, a familiar face with the Charlotte women's basketball program, will remain with the 49ers, moving into a staff position as a graduate manager for the 2021-22 season. She becomes the third recent player to join head coach Cara Consuegra's staff in the last three years.
FROM THE HEAD COACH
"For me, it's just really exciting to give our former players opportunities to step into the coaching side," Consuegra said. "Someone like Dara, who has been a part of our program for so long and who expressed interest in coaching, it was a no-brainer.
"She was a great leader and a great ambassador for our program. We look forward to having the ability to keep her on with our program, and increase her role as a graduate manager, as well as to see her grow and hopefully prepare her for the coaching world down the road."
PEARSON AS A PLAYER
The Hampton, Virginia, native first joined the 49ers as a freshman for the 2015-16 campaign, though her first game action came a season later due to a redshirt in her first year. She completed her time on the court this past season with 112 career games, 78 of which were starts, including all 30 of the 2019-20 campaign.
She put together her best statistical numbers as a redshirt sophomore in 2017-18, averaging 6.5 points and 8.6 rebounds. She tallied six double-doubles during the year, five against league competition. She grabbed a career-best 19 rebounds at Arkansas Dec. 7, 2017, and tallied a career-high 17 points at Old Dominion last February, making all eight of her field goal attempts in her final appearance in her native Tidewater area. Coupled with 13 boards against the Monarchs, it was her last career double-double.
QUOTE FROM PEARSON
"I'm excited to open my coaching career at a place that is special to me from my time as a player," Pearson said. "I know I will benefit greatly from having the opportunity to learn from one of the best coaching staffs around, having been here for the last-six years."
RECENT GRADUATE MANAGERS
Pearson joins recent 49ers standouts Kira Gordon and Ciara Gregory who have returned to the program as graduate managers. Gregory recently finished her two-year stint in the role and was elevated into a full-time assistant coach position with Charlotte earlier this summer.
EDUCATION
Pearson completed her first undergraduate degree in December 2019 as a sociology major and American studies minor. She added a second bachelor's degree in May 2021 as a political science major. She is continuing her studies while pursuing her master's degree in liberal studies.
Original source can be found here.
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