Former Samford University women’s basketball standout Amara Burragehas enters her second seson on the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) women’s basketball coaching staff as an assistant coach.

Burrage joins the DMACC program after spending the past few seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater.

“I am thrilled to announce Amara Mayers has joined our women’s basketball staff at DMACC,” DMACC women’s basketball coach Steve Krafcisin said. “Amara emerged from a wealth of applicants with her experience of playing and coaching at NCAA Division I Samford University in Birmingham, Ala.”

Krafcisin said Burrage’ enthusiasm and passion for wanting to be a part of DMACC Nation were traits that stood out and will serve the DMACC student-athletes and Boone community.

“Amara will add another positive pro-student attitude that makes our women’s basketball staff and college great,” Krafcisin said.

Burrage, a native of Harvest, Ala. helped Madison Academy to its first 3A state championship title in 2011. She earned All-State Tournament Team honors and was a McDonald’s All-America nominee. Mayers was named to the Alabama All-State Second Team, the Class 3A Area 14 All-Team, the Decatur Orthopedic Ladies Classic All-Tournament Team and MVP and the Huntsville Times Elite Second Team. She was ranked fifth in the Birmingham News 2011 Super Seniors and was selected to play in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star game. Mayers was ranked by ESPN HoopGurlz as the Class of 2011’s No. 34 guard in the country and the No. 5 player in the State of Alabama by Prentice Beverly’s Bama PrepGirls. She played one season at Belmont University, playing in all 30 games and earning one start, before transferring to Samford University. Mayers was third on the team in three-point field-goal percentage (.324).

Burragejoined the Samford women’s basketball staff after playing for the Bulldogs from 2013-2016, where she was an integral part of the team, appearing in 76 games during her career. As a senior, she started all 31 games, averaging eight points and 3.7 rebounds while helping the Bulldogs to a 20-11 record. Burrage graduated in May of 2016 with a degree in Sports Administration.

In her first season as a full-time assistant, Mayers was involved in all areas of the program. She handled all aspects of the team’s road trips, including lodging and meals, and she assisted head coach Mike Morris with the day-to-day running of the program.

Mayers spent two years as the program’s video coordinator while finishing her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. As the video coordinator, Mayers was responsible for overseeing and maintaining overall functionality of the video area and equipment as well as training staff on the editing system. She was also involved with recruiting and player development.