Sidwell Girls Basketball Head Coach Tamika Dudley Resigns

After five years, three DCSAA championships and two national titles, Sidwell Girls Varsity Basketball Head Coach Tamika Dudley has announced her departure from the Sidwell Basketball Program. 

While Dudley is departing from Sidwell, she will continue her coaching career at the St. James Performance Academy as their Director of Girls’ Basketball. The St. James Performance Academy, which opened in August of 2024, is a college preparatory sports academy located in Springfield, Va. 

Since Dudley arrived in 2020, the Sidwell Girls Varsity Basketball Team has had four recognized McDonald’s All-American players — this year being the second year in a row where Sidwell has had multiple players named to the McDonald’s All-American team. 

During her tenure at Sidwell, Dudley was named the three-time DCSAA Coach of the Year, the two-time ISL Coach of the Year, USA Today National Coach of the Year and Naismith Coach of the Year. 

Dudley markets the key to this success to, “kids who are in the program at Sidwell who want to work hard, want to buy it, want to commit to being a part of something, and being able to see beyond themselves and what it’s like to be part of a team.”

Dudley’s love of basketball began when she was a freshman in high school. After being awarded as a two-time Hall of Fame inductee in college, she looked to continue her basketball career in coaching: “I always felt like coaching was my passion.” 

In 2019, Dudley had no intentions to leave her previous position at another school, especially after winning their division’s championship. 

She recalled, “I ended up bringing my daughter Kendall to a Sidwell workout … and happened to see the athletic director pass by, and found out the previous coach had retired.” The chance encounter prompted Dudley to inquire about the job and eventually become a coach at Sidwell. 

Throughout her time at Sidwell, Dudley has enjoyed witnessing the growth and resilience of each player. She stated that “as players, [the members of the team] have really grown into their role and have done a great job in contributing to the team in ways they maybe wouldn’t have imagined when they first started.” 

Dudley is especially proud about the progress that junior Delaney Hughes has made throughout two seasons together. She said that she has loved watching Hughes’ growth in confidence and on the court, saying that “it’s one of the best parts of the job.”

“The hardest part about being a coach is that there’s never a good time to leave,” Dudley added. While the decision was difficult, Dudley believes that the move is crucial for advancing her career. “I felt like if I didn’t take this opportunity to start an academy program in my backyard, that opportunity might not present itself again.” 

Nevertheless, she notes that “leaving the girls and the community was for sure the hardest part,” and breaking the news to the girls included a lot of tears and emotion. Former Sidwell basketball star guard Kiki Rice ’22, who now plays at UCLA, noted how Dudley pushed her to reach the college level and be named Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022. 

“It was bittersweet … I’m still really sad because I really love this group of girls and I really feel like they are my family,” she said, referencing her Upper School and Middle School players. 

However, Dudley’s new position allows her to stay close to Sidwell: “I’m not far from them, and if they ever need me, I’m here.” 

“I know [the players] understand that this is a professional decision, not a personal one,” she added. Dudley’s time spent at Sidwell is very memorable to the community. She has made an impact on players with and without a strong basketball background, and sophomore Pilar Lynch said that “it was heartbreaking to hear her decision to move on from Sidwell, but I am so happy that she is taking this incredible opportunity.”