Nigerian Woman Makes History as Head Coach of George Washington University’s Women’s Basketball Team

In a groundbreaking appointment, George Washington University has named Ganiyat Adeduntan, a US-based Nigerian sportswoman, as the head coach of their women’s basketball team. This historic move marks a significant milestone for Adeduntan, who previously served as the head coach at Colgate University from 2021 to 2025 ¹.

During her tenure at Colgate, Adeduntan led the team to remarkable achievements, including back-to-back 20-victory seasons and a school record of 23 wins in the 2024/2025 season. Her impressive coaching career has also seen her contribute to an Atlantic 10 Conference championship and the National Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament appearance in 2018 during her time as an assistant coach at GWU from 2017 to 2021 ².

Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics, Michael Lipitz, praised Adeduntan, saying, “She is the right leader to return GW women’s basketball to the top of the A-10 and the national stage.” Adeduntan’s appointment has also been celebrated by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) ³.

With her wealth of experience and impressive track record, Adeduntan is poised to lead the GWU women’s basketball team to new heights.