LORETTO, Pa. – Head coach Keila Whittington announces the addition of Tayra Melendez to the Saint Francis University women's basketball coaching staff as an assistant. She joined the Red Flash for their games against Longwood and Toledo and rounds out Whittington's 2021-22 coaching staff.
 
Melendez is familiar with the Northeast Conference, as she spent two seasons with Bryant as the director of operations. She handled responsibilities of travel, coordinated practices and weightlifting sessions and managed the team's budget, amongst other tasks.
 
"I am so excited to have Tayra join our staff at this time," said Whittington. "Her familiarity with the NEC will be an added bonus as we head into conference play at the end of December."
 
As a player, Melendez has been part of the Puerto Rican National Team since 2014. She was one of 12 players selected to represent Puerto Rico in international competition, as the island qualified for its first Olympics in Puerto Rican women's basketball history.
 
Melendez was a starter for the Puerto Rican team at the 2020 Olympics that were played in 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. In three games, she had a total of seven points, 12 rebounds, three assists, one steal and four blocks.
 
Prior to the Olympic experience, she was a decorated member of the Puerto Rican National Team. She won gold medals at the 2018 and 2021 CentroBasket Tournament, in addition to a 2014 and 2021 silver medals and a 2017 bronze medal at the tournament. There were two CentroBasket Tournaments hosted in 2021. She was also a bronze medalist at the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup Tournament and 2018 Central American Games.
 
She played professionally in the PR-Baloncesto Superior Nacional Femenino (BSNF) from 2016-18 and rejoined the league in 2021. She was drafted third overall in 2016 by Santeras de Aguada and was named Defensive Player of the League in 2016 and 2018. She won her first league championship in 2018 after being traded to Gigantes de Carolina.
 
In 2021, she won the second BSNF league championship of her career with Gigantes de Carolina and was named Finals MVP. She also played in the Ecuador Women's Professional League in 2017 and Croatian First Women's League in 2019.
 
"She comes in with instant credibility as a player coming off the 2020 Olympics and winning a title recently playing professionally in Puerto Rico," said Whittington. "She will be a great role model and mentor for our team as she begins a full time on-court coaching role."

Before her professional career, Melendez spent four seasons at the University of Rhode Island from 2012-16. She was a co-captain for three seasons and earned Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week twice during her 2012-13 season.
 
Melendez joins Saint Francis for the remainder of the 2021-22 season, where she will assist with player development, scouting opponents, and recruiting.