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Clarissa Tomlinson Hometown: Victoria, Australia Position: Assistant Coach Experience: 5th Season College: Samford University

Clarissa Tomlinson enters her fifth ­season as an assistant coach with the Bulldogs. Prior to the 2005-06 season, she took on the duties of recruiting, on-floor coaching and camps.

For her first three seasons, her duties included film exchange, travel, practice times and equipment. She also worked on the strength and ­conditioning ­program.

"Clarissa has a great feel and under­standing of the game," Head Coach Mike Morris said. "She comes from a strong basketball family, and it shows daily in her ability to relate to, motivate and teach our players."

Tomlinson comes to Samford from Australia, where she spent three years playing profes­sionally for the Melbourne Tigers in the Women's National Basket­ball League, and then in the Australian Basketball League. During that time, she also worked as a coach of the "Hoop Time" Clinics for the Victoria Basketball Association. Tomlinson traveled to several schools per week and taught primary school-age ­children the fundamentals of ­basketball.

Tomlinson is a 2000 graduate of Samford University, where she was a member of the Bulldog basketball team from 1998 to 2000. During her time at Samford, she dished out 336 assists, the second-­highest career total in school history. She scored 649 points, ranking her fifth on the school's all-time scoring list. Her 43 blocks are third all-time, and her 151 steals are second. Tomlinson was named to the All-Newcomer Team for the Atlantic Sun in her first season. She was named second-team All-Conference as a senior.

Before playing at Samford, Tomlinson played two seasons at Copiah-Lincoln Junior College in Mississippi. While at Copiah, Tomlinson was named All-State, and her team finished the season ranked 13th in the country.

FIFTH SEASON

COACHING EXPERIENCE
2003-Present: Assistant Coach, Samford University
2002 Coach "Hoop Time" Clinics, Victoria Basketball Association

PLAYING EXPERIENCE
2001-03 Melbourne Tigers, Australian Basketball League
2001 Women's National Basketball League
1998-2000 Samford University
1996-98 Copiah-Lincoln Junior College

EDUCATION
2000 B.A., Samford University

PERSONAL
Birthday: July 6, 1977
Hometown: Victoria, Australia