2011-12: Tom Garrick is the newest member of Melanie Balcomb's coaching staff. A former Head Coach at the University of Rhode Island, Garrick joined Vanderbilt's staff as an assistant coach in the summer of 2009.
Garrick focuses on working with the team's guards, and his impact has been felt immediately. In 2011, Garrick helped Jence Rhoads earn honorable mention All-America honors and first team All-SEC. He was also vital in the development of freshmen Jasmine Lister and Christina Foggie. Lister earned SEC All-Freshman honors at point guard.
In his first year with the Commodores, Garrick helped Vanderbilt advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, and also played a role in Vanderbilt ranking second in the SEC in field-goal percentage and three-point field-goal percentage.
Before arriving at Vanderbilt, Garrick spent the past 11 years coaching at his alma mater, including 2005-09 as the head coach of the Rams' women's basketball team.
"Tom brings an exceptional wealth of knowledge with him to our program," Balcomb said. "I know Tom's vast experience -- as both a player and a coach -- will be an invaluable asset to our program."
Garrick began his coaching career as an assistant for the Rhode Island men's team in 1998-99, helping the Rams win the Atlantic-10 Championship in his first year. In 2001, he moved over to the women's side to work under Head Coach Boe Pearman.
When Pearman took a leave of absence in 2004, Garrick was named the acting head coach. He would take an assistant coaching position at the University of Virginia that spring before returning to Rhode Island in August to become the school's sixth head coach.
An outstanding player at Rhode Island, Garrick was drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers in 1988 and would play in the NBA for four seasons, including stints in San Antonio, Minnesota and Dallas. Garrick's professional career also took the "Ocean State" native overseas to play in Germany, Turkey and Spain during a five-year span.
Garrick earned a bachelor's degree in communications from Rhode Island, where he was a four-year letterwinner for the men's basketball team. Nicknamed "the Chief," he led the 1988 squad to the Sweet 16, while compiling a program-best 28-7 record. Garrick still ranks among the school's all-time Top 10 in scoring (1,573 points) steals (189) and assists (407), and was inducted into the URI Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998.
During his prep career, Garrick was a two-time all-state basketball player for West Warwick (R.I.) High School, while also excelling in football.
