Women's Basketball Coaching Staff

Liana Coutts

Liana Coutts

Head Coach Liana Coutts

Liana Coutts brought an extensive basketball background to Earlham College when she arrived in Richmond prior to the 2004-05 season.

Coutts graduated from The Ohio State University in 1989 with a degree in photography. As a starting point guard in 85 of her 113 games for the Buckeyes, Coutts was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection, part of three conference championships and one conference runner-up finish at Ohio State. Coutts participated the National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament in all four seasons advancing to the Sweet 16 three times and the Elite Eight once.

The Buckeyes were 102-21 (83 percent) during her career and 66-6 (92 percent) in the Big Ten without losing in the conference at home. As a senior, she averaged 3.2 assists as the Buckeyes went 24-6 overall and 16-2 in the conference. Coutts’ career best scoring performance was 13 points, which she did three times against Northwestern, Purdue and Arizona State.

After graduation, she also earned a Master of Science in Physical Education with an emphasis on Athletic Administration from Ohio University, while an assistant coach with the Bobcats from 1993-95.

The Delaware, Ohio native has been an assistant coach at the University of the Pacific (1995-96), Central Michigan University (1996-97), Ohio University (1997-99) and Butler University (1999-2000). She left Butler to become the head coach at Ohio Wesleyan University in 2001. Coutts led the school to a North Coast Athletic Conference tournament championship and a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Division III tournament in 2002. Her teams defeated Earlham three times that season, including once in the NCAC tourney.

While in high school, Coutts was an all-state performer during her senior year and District 11 Player of the Year.

In addition to her duties with the basketball program, Coutts serves as the convener of the Athletics, Wellness and Physical Education (AWPE) Department.

Contact:
Liana Coutts, head women's basketball coach
765/983-1486 — E-Mail Liana

Nicki Motto

Nicki Motto

Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Nicki Motto

Nicki Motto is in her first year with the Quakers. The Oakwood, Ohio, native comes to Earlham after serving as an assistant coach at Indiana State University during the 2006-07 season.

Motto graduated from Miami University in 2005 where she was a three-year point guard for the RedHawks. During her career, the RedHawks won the Mid-American Conference title once and the East Division twice. She was the co-captain as a senior and earned MAC East Player of the Week two times that same year. Motto played her first season of college basketball at Indiana University before transferring to Miami.

After leaving Miami, Motto was an administrative assistant coach at the University of Dayton in 2005-06, while working as a substitute teacher before moving to Indiana State.

Contact:
Nicki Motto, assistant women's basketball coach
765/983-1740 — E-Mail Nicki

Melissa Johnson

Assistant Coach Melissa Johnson
Melissa (Liffick) Johnson, now in her fifth season as the Quakers assistant coach, is actually in her ninth year with the Earlham women's basketball program.

The Whiteland, Ind., native is a 2003 Earlham graduate and a four-year member of the team. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and graduated from the Master’s in Teaching Program at Earlham in 2007. She is a teacher at Winchester High School.

A three-year captain who started 68 of her 93 games, Johnson was the George Van Dyke Outstanding Female Athlete in her senior year as well as a four-year Scholar Athlete Award recipient. She was also team Defensive Player of the Year twice for the Quakers.

Johnson lives in Richmond with her husband Nick, who is Earlham’s head track coach and an assistant football coach.

Contact:
Melissa Johnson, assistant women's basketball coach
765/983-1730 — E-Mail Melissa