Taja Stephens joined the Valdosta State women’s basketball program as a Graduate Assistant after moving into coaching following her college playing career. Stephens played at both the NJCAA and NCAA Division II level before medically retiring from basketball after three seasons. While she rehabilitated at Salem University, she stayed active in the program and worked closely with the coaching staff. This experience sparked her passion for coaching and player development.
From 2024 to 2026, Stephens gained coaching experience at Salem University. She assisted with scouting, preparing for practices and games, player development, basketball operations, and analytics. She also led small-group workouts and used platforms like Synergy, FastScout, and Hudl.
Before her time at Salem, Stephens played at Panola College and Midland College. She earned an Associate of Science in Psychology from Panola and then completed her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Sports and Recreation Management from Salem University.
