Judi Thurman joined the Rhodes women's basketball staff in August 2019. Thurman Was promoted to Head Coach in August 2023.
Since joining the Lynx Thurman has helped guide the team to 3 consecutive SAA conference championships, has earned 3 consecutive NCAA automatic bids, and multiple conference Player of the Years.
Thurman has recruited multiple players including SAA Defensive Player of the Years, SAA Player of the Years, All-SAA, and All-Region athletes. She is credited with coaching SAA Record breaking athletes including ones who set the SAA Record for single season 3pt percentage (46.2%), ranked 11th in the NCAA for 3pt made in a season, WBCA All American Honorable Mention, as well as D3Hoops All-Region players.
Lynx have been successful in the classroom with 100% graduation rate and multiple SAA Honor Roll accomplishments. They were also ranked 18th in 2020-21 season for the Highest GPA in all of DIII.
Before coming to Memphis Thurman spent five years at the University of West Alabama. She began as a graduate assistant coach in September 2014 and after completing her Master's degree in Exercise Science in May of 2016, she worked in athletic administration and continued to coach basketball.
Thurman played three years at the University of Mobile (2010-13) where she was a two-time selection to the Southern States Conference All-Academic Team. She also earned the 2012-13 Southern States Conference Musco Lighting Champions of Character team award and was a member of Kappa Delta Pi and Alpha Chi.
An NACA All-American in her prep career at Hope Christian, Thurman helped lead her team to three state titles while earning Most Valuable Player honors at the national tournament as a senior. She was team captain for three years and named to the all-national tournament team twice.
From Wilsonville, Ala., Thurman was a part of the 2013 Nike Coaches Clinic for Basketball, conducted summer camps and served on mission trips to Yakima, Wash., and the Dominican Republic where she played and taught basketball-sports camps.
She graduated from the University of Mobile in 2014 Summa Cum Laude with a 3.970 grade point average, earning her Bachelor's Degree in Human Performance Exercise Science as a Physical Education major. Thurman was named to the President's list five times and the Dean's list three times as a UM student.
