Julia Huddleston is entering her fourth year in Richmond as an assistant coach with the women’s basketball program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Huddleston is primarily responsible for guard development, while assisting with recruiting, individual workouts and student-athlete conditioning.

The senior member of Beth Cunningham's staff, Huddleston has earned the reputation of a veteran presence on the bench.

"Julia has been someone I've been able to count on day in and day out," says Cunningham. "She's a tireless worker who brings loyalty and dedication, and she has made a huge commitment to this program."

Huddleston joined the Rams after completing a one-year graduate assistantship at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn. She was part of a highly successful women’s basketball program that finished its 2002-03 campaign with a 27-4 overall record and reached the 2003 NCAA tournament. During her stint, she also helped the Lady Govs to a perfect 16-0 mark in the Ohio Valley Conference as well as the league’s regular season and tournament championships.

At Austin Peay Huddleston’s duties included recruiting, guard development, individual workouts, mentoring student-athletes, conditioning, on-court coaching, and film breakdown and exchange. She also served two summers as an assistant coach for the Georgia Metros AAU squad that finished third in the 2002 AAU national tournament and fifth the previous year. Huddleston also helped tutor three AAU All-Americans while with the Metros and implemented a speed and agility program for the team as well.

A 2002 graduate of Eckerd College, Huddleston was a four-year letterwinner for the Tritons in women’s basketball and a three-time team captain. She received the school’s National Student Athlete Day award as a junior and earned the Jim Harley Heart of Eckerd Athletics award following her senior year.

Huddleston, a native of Atlanta, Ga., currently resides in the Richmond area.