Tari Cummings joined the University of Arkansas women’s basketball staff in May 2011 as an assistant coach for the Razorbacks.
Cummings assists Arkansas as the team’s recruiting coordinator, works with the Razorback posts and is the team’s liaison with the academic center. Cummings on-the-court role continues to expand as she oversees in bounds plays and situational offense.
In 2014-15, Cummings helped senior Jhasmin Bowen improved from 8.8 ppg as a junior to 10.7 ppg in her senior season. Bowen also went from 4.8 rpg to 6.4 under her tutelage. Bowen finished her career ranked 32nd all-time with 861 career points at Arkansas. She was 24th in career rebounds under Cummings.
Arkansas often played post by committee in 2016-17 allowing Cummings to work with several players on the Razorback roster in that position. The true post players, Alecia Cooley and Kiara Williams, combined for 8.5 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game and 1.1 blocks per game. Cummings also worked with Jessica Jackson in the post position. Jackson left her name all over the Razorback record books in her four seasons.
In addition to her on-the-court responsibilities, Cummings has assisted in the academic pursuits of the team and watched as 17 players completed their eligibility and graduated from the University.
Cummings comes to Arkansas by way of the University of Houston where she spent two seasons working with the Cougars as the team’s recruiting coordinator.
While at Houston, Cummings worked with the guards and helped the Cougars play to a perfect 16-0 mark, the conference title and an NCAA Tournament appearance. In addition, she coached and mentored three players who are currently playing in the professional ranks.
Cummings spent two seasons at the University of Cincinnati where she served in the same capacity. She worked with the Bearcat post players and served as the academic liaison and recruiting coordinator.
Prior to her time at UC, Cummings spent four seasons at Arkansas-Fort Smith under long-time head coach Louis Whorton, where she helped the Lions to three NJCAA National Tournament appearances, including a pair of final fours and a consolation championship. She coached and mentored three NJCAA All-Americans during her tenure at UA-Fort Smith while being responsible for the development of the team’s post players and serving as the recruiting coordinator.
She played her college ball at UA-Fort Smith (then Westark College), where she earned All-American honors in 1999 and helped the Lions place seventh in the NJCAA National Tournament in 1997-98. She finished with 1,262 career points, ranking third in the program’s history. She went on to play two seasons at Oklahoma State University, where she was an All-Big 12 performer in 2001-02, averaging 13.1 points per contest and leading the Cowgirls with 6.9 rebounds per game.
Cummings earned her associate of arts degree from Westark College in 1999 and received a B.S. in sociology from Oklahoma State in 2003. She is a native of Pocola, Okla., and has a daughter, Tiya.
She was inducted into the UA-Fort Smith (Westark College) Hall of Fame in 2013.
COACHING CAREER
Assistant Coach
Arkansas-Fort Smith || Four Seasons (2003-07) || 85-20*
Monitored student-athlete academic progress
Coached post players and had on-court instruction duties
Camp coordinator
2003-04 || 28-6 || Region II Champions
2004-05 || 31-3 || Region II Champions
2005-06 || 26-11 || Region II Champions
2006-07 || Not Available*
University of Cincinnati || Two Seasons (2007-09) || 26-33
Monitored student-athlete academic progress
Handled all aspects of recruiting
On-floor instruction
2007-08 || 12-16
2008-09 || 14-17
University of Houston || Two Seasons (2009-11) || 43-21
Monitored student-athlete academic progress
Handled all aspects of recruiting
On-floor instruction
Opponent break down and scouting
2009-10 || 17-15
2010-11 || 26-6
Arkansas || Six Seasons (2011-present) || 116-82 (.586)
Served as recruiting coordinator and worked with forwards
Back-to-back postseason appearances
2011-12 || 24-9 (NCAA second round)
2012-13 || 20-13 (WNIT second round)
2013-14 || 19-11
2014-15 || 18-14 (NCAA second round)
2015-16 || 12-18
2016-17 || 13-17
TOTALS
at UAFS || 85-20
at Cincinnati || 26-33
at Houston || 43-21
at Arkansas 116-82
14 Seasons || 260-156 (missing one season)
