Mone Florence, former AU women’s hoops standout, named graduate assistant coach
By Danielle Kennedy | Sports editor
Mone Florence has been added to Augusta University women’s basketball staff as a graduate assistant coach for the 2025-26 season.
A pivotal player on and off the court, Florence is taking what she learned from her four years with the Jaguars to achieve her dream of coaching professionally.
Florence started her coaching journey a few years ago, attending a basketball summer camp hosted by her high school, Eagles Landing High School in McDonough. There she coached girls in third to eighth grade.
Florence’s high school coach asked if she wished to attend as a coach and while she found it fun, it was not what she envisioned.
“Maybe that age group isn’t where I want to be at, so I tried high school the following summer, and I was like, yeah, not it either,” said Florence.
Although she did not prefer working with younger children, Florence did find a passion for coaching. She has found that she prefers working with older players and has enjoyed coaching at the college level so far.
As a former player on the AU team, Florence is familiar with the expectations and what it takes to excel as a Jaguar. Last season Florence averaged 9.4 points per game and started 26 of 27 games.
Some of her best games were against rival USC Aiken. In 2022, she hit a game-winning 3-pointer to beat the Pacers in Aiken. That came on a night when she scored 17 points. In 2024, she nailed seven treys in a 78-61 win at USCA.
While the 2025-26 season is still a few weeks away for the Jaguars, preparation has already begun. With 10 new players joining the team, a key component, according to Florence, is acclimating the new players into the team and each other.
“With the newcomers, getting them to understand how the Peach Belt is different than where they’re coming from,” said Florence. “It’s a very competitive conference. We have to go game speed 24/7.”
Florence says she enjoys the hands-on experience of coaching that she has here at AU.
Not only is she continuing her basketball journey here at AU, but Florence also attends graduate school studying business administration.
Currently, Florence plans to stay in coaching but sees the benefits this degree could bring her.
Finding the balance between coaching and school can be challenging, but Florence finds the other coaching staff, namely AU Coach Celeste Stewart, to be extremely supportive of her goals as well as school obligations.
“My head coach is really understanding,” said Florence. “If I need to leave and do something for class, she understands.”
You can see the team, and Florence, face off against North Greenville University on Nov 14 at Christenberry Fieldhouse in their first game of the season.
Contact Danielle Kennedy at dakennedy@augusta.edu.
Mone Florence (R) drives to the hoop during her playing career for the Jaguars. At the top of the page, Florence dribbles into the frontcourt during a Peach Belt Conference game. (Photo by Lydia Williams/the Bell Ringer)
Florence is mobbed after hitting a game-winning 3-pointer during her playing career for Augusta University. (photo by Chris Rickerson/the Bell Ringer)
