Wheeling, W. Va. – On Monday, Wheeling Women's Basketball Coach Ella Skeens announced an addition to the 2025 Cardinal Coaching Staff. Nikayla Edgell has been named the team's Assistant Coach, taking over the role that Skeens held with the team last season. Edgell comes to the Cardinals with experience as both a head coach and assistant coach for over five years at the NCAA DII level and is excited to help the Wheeling Women's Basketball program continue its growth in 2025-2026.
"I am excited for the opportunity to join the Wheeling University Women's Basketball program as an assistant coach," said Edgell. "I want to thank coach Ella Skeens, the Athletic Director [Carrie Hanna], and the Administration for this amazing opportunity. The culture and vision that coach Skeens has established are inspiring, and I look forward to contributing to the continued growth of the program."
Prior to Wheeling, Edgell spent two seasons as Head Women's Basketball Coach at Salem University from 2023-2025. During the 2023-2024 season, Edgell would help lead the Tigers to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division I Women's Basketball Championship with a 77-59 win over Lyon College (Ark.). Last season, she helped coach three USCAA All-American Award winners, including first teamers Liliani Krause and Cassandra Smith. Edgell's Tiger's teams also excelled in the classroom, with the team placing six players on the USCAA's All-Academic Team, including two-time honoree Carine Pinkney. While with Salem, Edgell was responsible for all aspects of program building, including recruiting, player development, and community engagement.
Prior to her time as Head Coach at Salem, Edgell would serve as an assistant coach at former MEC member Alderson Broaddus University during the 2022-2023 season. She would help the Battlers continue their development on the court, helping Iyahnna Williams earn Second Team All-MEC honors for the Battlers. Edgell's collegiate coaching career began with the Tigers during the 2021-2022 season, where she focused on recruiting and working with the team's guards on the floor. Before her collegiate coaching career began, Edgell coached several seasons at the club level with New Basketball Academy, a development program that she developed for youth basketball students in her hometown of East Liverpool, Ohio.
"I'm thrilled to welcome Nikayla Edgell to our 2025-2026 staff," said Skeens. "From the moment we connected, I knew she would be a great fit for our program. Her energy, knowledge of the game, and passion for developing players will make a tremendous impact on our team moving forward."
Edgell played her collegiate basketball at NCAA Division III LaRoche University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of East Liverpool, Ohio and has deep connections to the Ohio Valley through both playing and coaching.
