Tiara Malcom, a record-setting forward and one of the top women’s basketball players in University of Delaware basketball history, begins her fourth season with the Blue Hen coaching staff in 2009-10.
Malcom, who played professionally during the 2005-06 season in Barreiro, Portugal with the GD ESSA Basketball Club, earned her degree in family and community services from Delaware in May, 2005.
“We are excited to have Tiara back with our program,” said Delaware head coach Tina Martin, who made the announcement June 13, 2006. “She is one of the finest players I’ve ever coached and her work-ethic and knowledge of the game are outstanding. We are confident that those strong characteristics she had as a player will be valuable as she joins the coaching ranks.”
A native of Wilmington, Del., the 6-1 Malcom enjoyed an outstanding high school career at nearby Caravel Academy before coming to Delaware. She was a two-time All-State selection and was named the state’s Co-Player of the Year in 2001.
She was a four-year standout for the Blue Hens under Martin, leading the squad to a four year mark of 89-32, Colonial Athletic Association regular season titles in 2003 and 2005, and berths in the Women's National Invitation Tournament three times. The Hens, who went 55-15 in conference action during Malcom's career, and appeared in the CAA Tournament championship game in both 2003 and 2005.
Malcom, who served as captain of the 2004-05 squad, was a three-time All-CAA selection, earning second team honors in 2003 and 2004 before garnering first team recognition in 2005 when she was named CAA Player of the Year honors after leading the league in scoring with 15.5 points per game while ranking among the league leaders with 6.8 rebounds per contest.
She became just the third player in UD history to be named conference player of the year. She was named the University of Delaware’s Outstanding Senior Female Athlete of the Year for the 2004-05 season.
A seven-time CAA Player of the Week, Malcom set school records for career free throws made (535 - also CAA record), games played (121), and double figure scoring games (88) and ranks No. 5 all-time in scoring (1,545 points), No. 5 in blocks (109), and No. 9 in rebounding (794) for the Blue Hens. She averaged 12.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game for her career.
Malcom was a two-time CAA Dean Ehlers Award candidate for overall contributions on the court, classroom, and community and overcome a partial hearing loss in both ears to star for the Blue Hens.
She worked at the University of Delaware Women’s Basketball Camp for three years, one year with the UD Men’s Basketball Camp, and was active working at the Future Stars Basketball Camp in 2000-05 and Final Exam Basketball Camp in 2004 and 2005.
She also was active as a student intern with the New Castle (Del.) County Head Start Inc. and as a camp counselor at the Clarence Fraim Boys and Girls Club in Wilmington.
Assistant Coach Tiara Malcom