Maryville head coach Darrin Travillian named Elsa Eckenrod to his women's basketball coaching staff in June 2024. Eckenrod took over as assistant coach after helping the team during the 2023-24 season.
 
Eckenrod joined the 1000+ points club during her Maryville playing career, which ran from 2018 to 2022. She was a USA South All-Western Division Second Team selection in 2021 and a three-time USA South Academic All-Conference selection. She also grabbed over 500 rebounds. 
 
In 2020-21, Eckenrod and the Scots captured the USA South's Western Division championship.
 
"I am so excited to bring Elsa home as a full-time assistant coach," Travillian said. "Throughout my time at Maryville, I have been very fortunate to hire my alums as assistant coaches (Amber Lee, CJ Dake, Jordan Ballard, and now Elsa). Like her predecessors, Elsa absolutely bleeds Orange and Garnet, and she cares about this program, its success, its growth, its history, and its future.
 
"Elsa was a captain, an all-conference performer, a 1,000-point scorer, and a champion. I know that she will bring the passion she displayed as a player to her new position, and I have already seen the positive impact she makes, as she served as a volunteer assistant this past season. Whether it was running players through workouts, or talking to them on the sidelines, she demonstrated a willingness to work and to make this team better."
 
Education Major Back on the Bench
The McMinnville native graduated in 2022 with a degree in Education, and earned her Masters in Sports Management and Entertainment from Trevecca Nazarene after serving as a GA for their basketball program. 
 
"Getting to play at Maryville is something I cherish – the games, teammates, even practices," Eckenrod said. "Maryville gave me memories I'll remember for a lifetime, and now I get the opportunity to work for a program that made me who I am. Blessed is an understatement."
 
Eckenrod said her time with the team in 2023-24 was all about growth – both for her and the squad.
 
"Last year laid a solid foundation for the team as a whole," Eckenrod said. "I am excited to see the growth continue.
 
"As a player, I was given the chance to expand my basketball knowledge only because of Coach T. Now I can learn from the man who already has been incredibly influential in my basketball career from a coaching perspective. I am beyond excited."
 
Travillian believes his new assistant coach can have influence on the program and on those still making their college decisions.
 
"I am excited for her to tell our story on the recruiting trail, and I can't wait for her to mentor the young women in our program every day," Travillian said. "This is definitely a great day to be a Fighting Scot!"