Timothy Eatman brings nearly four decades of collegiate coaching experience to Warren Wilson University, including an extensive background at the NCAA Division I level and multiple stops as a head coach.
Eatman most recently served as the head women’s basketball coach at Cottey College during the 2025-26 season, where he oversaw recruiting, player development, student-athlete mentorship, program administration and compliance. Prior to Cottey, he spent three seasons as the head coach at South Carolina State University from 2022-25, leading all aspects of the Bulldogs’ program, including recruiting, training, scheduling, travel and financial management.
Before taking over at South Carolina State, Eatman spent seven seasons at Rutgers University and held several roles under legendary head coach C. Vivian Stringer. He joined the Scarlet Knights as an assistant coach in 2015 before serving as interim head coach from January 2018 through September 2019. He was promoted to associate head coach in 2019 and served as interim head coach again during the 2021-22 season.
During his first stint as Rutgers’ interim head coach, Eatman helped lead the Scarlet Knights to a double bye in the Big Ten Tournament and a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Stringer, who mentored Eatman during his career, credited him with leading Rutgers to what was then the program’s highest finish in Big Ten play.
Eatman has built a reputation throughout his career as an accomplished recruiter and teacher of the game. He played a role in signing 11 Top-30 recruiting classes at five NCAA Division I programs and was recognized by Lindy’s Magazine as the nation’s top recruiter while at Iowa in 1994. At Kansas, he helped bring in the No. 6 recruiting class in the country in both 1997 and 1998. Fourteen players he coached went on to play in the WNBA, while 13 continued their careers in the coaching profession.
His coaching résumé includes stops at Rutgers, Rhode Island, Northeastern, Boston College, Arkansas, Louisville, Kansas, Iowa, Houston and Mississippi State. Eatman also served as the head coach at the University of Illinois Chicago from 1998-2002 after beginning his collegiate coaching career as head coach and director of intra-sports at Talladega College from 1988-90.
During his first tenure at Kansas, Eatman helped the Jayhawks capture their first Big XII Championship, advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 and compile a 48-15 overall record. His career has included responsibilities in nearly every area of a collegiate basketball program, from recruiting and defensive strategy to academics, fundraising, community engagement and student-athlete development.
Developing student-athletes beyond basketball has remained an important part of Eatman’s coaching philosophy. He places an emphasis on academics, accountability, integrity and preparing student-athletes for life after college. His approach focuses not only on developing successful basketball players, but also helping student-athletes earn their degrees and leave college prepared for their next chapter.
Eatman has also served as a member of the Big Ten Equality Coalition and as co-chair of its Inclusion Sub-Committee. In those roles, he helped lead representatives from Big Ten institutions and the Big Ten Network in developing programming centered around inclusion and student-athlete engagement.
A Talladega College graduate, Eatman earned his bachelor's degree in chemistry in 1988. He later earned a master's degree in Christian education from Louisville Bible School in 2008.
Coaching Experience
| Years |
Institution |
Position |
| 2025-26 |
Cottey College |
Head Coach |
| 2022-25 |
South Carolina State University |
Head Coach |
| 2021-22 |
Rutgers University |
Interim Head Coach |
| 2019-21 |
Rutgers University |
Associate Head Coach |
| 2018-19 |
Rutgers University |
Interim Head Coach |
| 2015-17 |
Rutgers University |
Assistant Coach |
| 2014-15 |
Rhode Island University |
Assistant Coach |
| 2013-14 |
Northeastern University |
Assistant Coach |
| 2011-12 |
Boston College |
Assistant Coach / Interim Head Coach |
| 2007-11 |
University of Arkansas |
Associate Head Coach |
| 2004-07 |
University of Louisville |
Assistant Coach |
| 2002-04 |
University of Kansas |
Assistant Coach |
| 1998-2002 |
University of Illinois Chicago |
Head Coach |
| 1996-98 |
University of Kansas |
Associate Head Coach |
| 1994-95 |
University of Iowa |
Assistant Coach |
| 1992-93 |
University of Houston |
Assistant Coach |
| 1990-92 |
Mississippi State University |
Assistant Coach |
| 1988-90 |
Talladega College |
Head Coach / Director of Intra-Sports |
