May 30, 2008

BEAUMONT - After spending the last four years as an assistant coach with the Lamar University women's basketball program Janet Eaton is leaving the confines of the Montagne Center to become the head coach at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas.

Eaton played a key role the Lady Cardinals rise to the top of the Southland Conference East Division. This season, as a member of head coach Larry Tidwell's staff, she helped Lamar to their first winning season since the 1991-92 season.

"From day one Janet Eaton has put Lamar University first," Tidwell said. "Her loyalty, passion for the game and love of our student athletes has been second to none. The Lamar family is happy for Janet, but we're sad because she was such a huge factor in everything we accomplished this past year."

Eaton served as the Lady Cardinals interim head coach for the final five games of the 2006-07 season, guiding LU to a pair of wins over Nicholls State and Southeastern Louisiana to close out the regular season. The wins helped Lamar clinch the No. 7 seed in the Southland Conference tournament in Houston. Overall Eaton's record as the interim head coach was 2-3.

Prior to coming to Lamar, Eaton served as director of athletics, head women's basketball coach and a teacher at Xavier Prep in New Orleans, La. She was named Metro Coach of the Year, Co-Catholic Coach of the Year and Orleans Parish Coach of the Year. Eaton also guided her 2002 team to district, bi-district and regional championships.

Prior to her time at Xavier Prep, Eaton spent five years at St. Bernard High School. She was coach of the year in 1998 and `99, leading her team to district and bi-district titles in both years.

In addition to coaching, Eaton's credentials also include collegiate playing experience. From 1992-94, she played shooting guard under legendary coach Mary D. Teamer at Dillard University.

Originally from Eastabuchie, Mississippi, Eaton was a prep star at South Jones High School under Philip James. She helped South Jones to the 1988 Mississippi High School State Championship, completing the season with an undefeated 37-0 record.

Eaton earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in health and physical education from Dillard in 1994. She added a masters of education from the University of Phoenix in 2001.