TUSCALOOSA | New University of Alabama women’s basketball coach Wendell Hudson wasted little time in shaking up the Crimson Tide’s coaching staff.

On Monday, UA officials announced the hiring of former Alabama standout Joni Crenshaw as an assistant coach.

“Adding Joni to our staff will be a major contribution to our program,” Hudson said. “Joni is someone who played here at Alabama and was a really good player, good person and also is a great coach, an excellent recruiter.”

Hudson also announced that current assistant Ty Evans will be retained.

Crenshaw returns to Alabama after three years at Troy University and three years at Louisiana Tech.

While at Troy, Crenshaw served as a recruiting coordinator and signed two Atlantic Sun Conference Freshmen of the Year players in Laura Lee Holman (2004) and Amy Lewis (2005).

Crenshaw lettered four years at UA and is ranked third in career blocked shots (103). She was named to the Southeastern Conference’s Academic Honor Roll four times (1998-2001).

The Meridian, Miss., native said she is excited to come to the place she considers home.

“I think anyone who knows me, knows I love the University of Alabama and the women’s basketball program,” Crenshaw said. “To be able to come back and be a part of the program, it is just exciting and I am happy to be here.

“By playing here and coaching at Troy and Tech, I was able to meet a lot of the [high school] players and coaches,” she said. “I feel pretty confident about going out and recruiting in the state of Alabama with coach Hudson and Evans. Players in this state want to come to Alabama.”