Augusta, Ga. - Women's basketball coach Celeste Stewart has announced former Augusta player Mone Florence has been added to the coaching staff as a graduate assistant for the 2025-26 season. 

Florence graduated in 2025 and has always wanted to go into coaching. She now gets her first shot with the program she's familiar with. From Fort Walton Beach, Fl., Florence started all but a few games in the last two years for the Jaguars and played a big role in Augusta racking up 42 wins in that time frame. She averaged over seven points a game and was a team leader on and off the basketball court. 

This past April, Florence was part of the nationwide So You Want To Be A Coach program, where student-athletes were able to participate in a variety of workshops to give participants an understanding of what skills are necessary to become a coach and what all is involved on the administrative side of the position.

"She already had that leadership mentality as a student-athlete. She has a passion for the game and that showed through her work as a player, but also her behind the scenes effort of wanting to get into coaching. She was really invested and I can tell she's hungry for it. " said Stewart. 

Stewart added she's a natural fit for the position. 

"She knows the system, she knows my expectation and she can be an extension of me to our players," said Stewart. "I'm excited about having her here and looking forward to what she does this year." 

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