Purdue women’s basketball head coach Sharon Versyp announced the hiring of Michael Scruggs as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator this week, filling out her staff in preparation for this week’s international trip to Australia. Scruggs has spent the last 10 years in various assistant coaching roles, most recently at Marshall and Loyola Chicago.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Michael to Purdue,” Versyp said. “He’s an excellent recruiter, has tons of energy, is fantastic with the student-athletes and has an outstanding track record of developing his players. His professionalism and work ethic and passion for women’s basketball is evident with his engaging personality.”
In addition to stops at Marshall and Loyola Chicago, Scruggs has also coached at LSU, Cleveland State, Samford and Chattanooga, along with time as a student in the legendary Pat Summitt’s program as an undergraduate at Tennessee.
“I’m beyond thrilled to be joining the Boilermaker family,” Scruggs said. “Purdue is an amazing university with both athletic and academic excellence, and I am eager to start a new journey here. I have an incredible amount of respect for coach Versyp, her staff and the Purdue women’s basketball program. I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to work alongside such an experienced and successful group of coaches.”
In three seasons at Loyola Chicago, Scruggs helped build the Rambler program up to a 13-win season in 2018-19, including victories in six of their first eight games to mark their best start in 17 years, and their first postseason win since 2015. He helped mentor three individuals to All-Missouri Valley Conference honors in his tenure, including sophomore Abby O’Connor in 2018-19 after she averaged 14.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots per game and became the Ramblers’ first first-team All-MVC honoree since 2016.
Scruggs spent the 2015-16 season alongside fellow Boilermaker assistant Beth Couture at Cleveland State, where they guided a pair of Vikings to All-Horizon League honors. Ashanti Abshaw was named Freshman of the Year, while Brooke Smith earned All-Defensive Team honors.
Scruggs spent three seasons under Nikki (Caldwell) Fargas at LSU, working as the team’s director of video operations from 2012 to 2014, and then serving as an interim assistant coach for the 2014-15 season. The Tigers racked up 60 wins in his three seasons, making the NCAA Tournament all three years and advancing to the Sweet 16 twice.
Previously, Scruggs was an assistant coach at Samford University for the 2011-12 season. He helped lead the Bulldogs to their second straight Southern Conference Tournament crown en route to appearing in the NCAA Tournament. Scruggs got his start in the collegiate coaching ranks at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, serving as a graduate assistant for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. In 2010, the Mocs captured the SoCon Tournament title and earned the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
“Michael’s impressive capabilities as an assistant coach, as well as mentorships from ladies like Nikki Fargas and Pat Summitt, and his experience with Power 5 programs make him an excellent addition to our staff,” Versyp said. “His recruiting abilities are held in high regard around the country, and we are excited about everything he will bring to Purdue. We feel he is an outstanding fit for our program.”
The Knoxville, Tennessee, native earned a bachelor’s degree in sports management from the University of Tennessee in 2008 and a master’s degree in special education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2011.
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