Saint Louis University women’s basketball has added a dynamic new voice to its sideline, naming Taylor Dunham as an assistant coach on Thursday. Dunham arrives in the Gateway City with a résumé that stands out even in the competitive world of college coaching: decorated Division I player, high school coach, U.S. Naval officer, and proven leader in high-stakes environments.
Head coach Rebecca Tillett, who coached Dunham during her playing days at the Naval Academy, has long seen the makings of a top-flight coach in her former player.
“Throughout a career, it is identifiable which players might make great future coaches,” Tillett said. “After coaching Taylor at Navy, I always hoped that we would one day work together. Taylor’s intuitive leadership abilities, combined with her diverse leadership experiences, made her a highly sought-after candidate for finalizing our staff.”
Tillett praised Dunham’s high-energy personality and ability to elevate those around her. “She is an innately high-energy positive person who has the ability to change the temperature of every room she enters. When adversity hits, she creates new pathways to excellence.” Her background spans leading an elite college program on the court to guiding personnel as a Navy officer — skills that Tillett believes will profoundly shape the Billikens’ student-athletes both on and off the floor.
Dunham most recently served as a varsity assistant at Woodbridge Senior High School in Virginia, where she contributed to two playoff appearances and a trip to the championship game. Her duties there encompassed practice planning, guard development, scouting reports, film study, and offseason player development — areas where her playing pedigree as a sharpshooting guard should translate directly to impactful on-court instruction.
Before returning to the hardwood full-time, Dunham built a strong professional career supporting Department of Defense initiatives as a Project Lead with Systems Planning and Analysis. In 2025, she earned an Exceptional Performance Award for spearheading policy changes that boosted efficiency and client support. From 2018 to 2023, she served five years as a U.S. Naval Officer, leading teams of 10-50 personnel in demanding settings and earning two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals for distinguished leadership.
On the court, Dunham was a cornerstone of the Navy Midshipmen program. A 5-4 guard from Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and a Mount Vernon High School product, she became a four-year starter and team captain. She surpassed 1,000 career points, ranking among the program’s all-time top shooters. Her résumé includes Patriot League All-Rookie honors as a freshman, third-team All-Conference as a junior, and first-team All-Conference as a senior.
Dunham still holds Navy’s single-season record with 98 three-pointers made and sits second all-time in career makes with 241. She played a key role in the program’s most successful season, helping the Midshipmen secure 25 wins — the winningest in school history — and notch their first-ever postseason victory in the WNIT. As a senior, she also competed in the National College 3-Point Contest.
“I am beyond grateful and honored to join the Saint Louis University family,” Dunham said in her first comments as a Billiken. “The opportunity to coach the game I love at such a special university is truly a blessing. I’m excited to contribute to the women’s basketball program, connect with the community and help build something special alongside this staff and team. I cannot wait to get started. Go Billikens!”
The hire comes as Tillett continues to shape the program’s culture and competitiveness in the Atlantic 10 Conference. With Dunham’s blend of elite shooting instincts, guard development expertise, and proven leadership forged in military and competitive environments, the Billikens add a multifaceted coach poised to make an immediate impact on player development and team culture heading into the 2026-27 season.
Welcome to The Lou, Coach Dunham.
