Ashley Earley returned to Vanderbilt for her second stint as an assistant coach with the Commodores in April 2021. The 2026-27 campaign will be the sixth season of her second stint at Vanderbilt and her ninth overall as a Commodore assistant coach.
A member of Vanderbilt’s 1,000-point club as a student-athlete from 2001-05, Earley returns to the program after being on the Vandy bench from 2013-16. With a track record of success in Memorial Gymnasium as a student-athlete and a coach, Earley coached Vanderbilt to the NCAA Tournament in 2014 while working hard on the recruiting front to bring in a pair of top-20 classes, including the nation’s sixth-best unit and the top class in the SEC in 2016.
During her time with the program as a coach, Earley also tutored Vanderbilt’s 2014-15 frontcourt to ranking as one of the most efficient in the nation. At season’s end, four players connected on better than 50 percent from the field while the team ranked 10th nationally at 45.4 percent.
An assistant at Penn State for the past two seasons, Earley also has coaching stops at Northern Kentucky (2017-19), Virginia (2012-13), Marquette (2010-12), Rhode Island (2009-10), Tennessee Tech (2007-09) and Alabama (2006-07).
An All-America, all-region and first team All-SEC honoree while a candidate for both the Naismith Trophy and the Wooden Award after the 2004-05 season, she closed her career leading Vandy in points, rebounds and steals for the season while shooting 64 percent from the floor. To this day, Earley is fifth in career field goal percentage (57.8) and eighth in single-season rebounds (300 in 2004-05) while ranking third for total games played (135). Along the way, she helped the Commodores to a pair of Sweet 16 appearances and the Elite Eight in 2002.
After her career at Vanderbilt, Earley was drafted by the Indiana Fever in the 2005 WNBA Draft and played professionally overseas for Maccabi Tel Kabir in the Safsal Israeli League.
No. 12/11 Commodores defeat No. 5/5 LSU, 65-61, to score its first win over a top-five team since the 2008-09 season
No. 12/11 Vanderbilt rolls to an 88-71 win at Arkansas to open SEC play
Vanderbilt makes a season-high 15 3-pointers in a 100-59 win to close out the 2024-25 regular season
Vanderbilt hosts Texas A&M on Thursday for its final home game of 2024-25
Women’s basketball was handed an 82-54 loss by No. 6/6 South Carolina on Senior Day at Memorial Gymnasium
Mikayla Blakes and Khamil Pierre were named to the Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Women’s College Player of the Year Midseason Team
Vanderbilt women’s basketball players Mikayla Blakes and Khamil Pierre were each selected to the USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Year Midseason Top 50 watch list
Vanderbilt heads to No. 6/4 LSU for a Monday matchup on SEC Network
Vanderbilt women’s basketball concludes the 2024 calendar year with a Sunday morning matchup against Alabama A&M on SEC Network
Assistant coach and recruiting coordinator expected to return ahead of season
Long-time voice of the Commodores calling last games
A mother and daughter’s basketball journey tells the story of a new era of equality
Vanderbilt splits the week at Middle Tennessee and hosts Tennessee Tech
Vanderbilt hosts Gardner-Webb and Little Rock this week
Ralph adds final new staffer in Director of Creative Content
Ralph adds director of operations, video coordinator to inaugural women’s basketball staff
Ralph adds Christina Foggie and Kyla Irwin to women’s basketball staff
Shea Ralph announces Vanderbilt’s three assistant coaches
Commodores visit No. 16 Texas A&M and No. 1 South Carolina this week
Commodores host annual Pink Game, Ole Miss on Sunday
