Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Women's Basketball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach – Director of Analytics
- Email:
- Tom.Hodges@mtsu.edu
UPDATED: April 2026
A veteran of the women’s basketball coaching ranks and one of the most respected analytical minds in the game, Tom Hodges enters his fifth season as Director of Analytics for Middle Tennessee women’s basketball in 2026–27.
A Shelbyville, Tennessee native, Hodges brings a wealth of experience and success to the Blue Raider program, having served on Head Coach Rick Insell’s staff during multiple championship eras. His deep understanding of the game, recruiting background, and ability to merge traditional coaching principles with advanced analytics have made him an integral part of the Blue Raider operation.
This marks Hodges’ third stint at Middle Tennessee, previously serving on Insell’s staff from 2005–10 and 2014–17. Across those tenures, the Blue Raiders captured four Sun Belt Conference titles, a Conference USA championship, and multiple NCAA Tournament appearances while developing some of the most prolific scorers and rebounders in program history.
In his current role, Hodges oversees all aspects of analytics, including opponent scouting, game preparation, advanced statistical breakdowns, and player efficiency analysis. His work blends film study with modern metrics—such as shot charts, lineup data, and tempo-based evaluation—to enhance both individual development and team performance.
Hodges’ impact was evident during the 2025–26 season with the emergence of Blair Baugus, who earned Conference USA Freshman of the Year honors. Utilizing detailed performance tracking and shot selection analysis, Hodges helped accelerate Baugus’s transition to the collegiate level, contributing to her immediate success and continued growth as one of the league’s top young guards.
His analytical approach has also played a significant role in the development of Middle Tennessee’s frontcourt in recent seasons, most notably Anastasiia Boldyreva. Under the combined guidance of Hodges and the coaching staff, Boldyreva developed into one of the nation’s premier post players, leading NCAA Division I in blocked shots during the 2024–25 season while anchoring one of the top defensive units in the country. She concluded her career ranked among the program’s all-time leaders in blocks and field goal percentage, a testament to the staff’s ability to pair data-driven insight with on-court development.
Beyond individual player growth, Hodges’ influence is reflected in Middle Tennessee’s overall style of play. The Blue Raiders have consistently ranked among Conference USA leaders in three-point field goals made, assist-to-turnover ratio, and overall offensive efficiency, while maintaining a disciplined defensive identity rooted in preparation and execution.
During his first two stints with the program, Hodges helped guide Middle Tennessee to unprecedented levels of success. From 2005–10, the Blue Raiders compiled a 126–38 record, earning wins over national powers such as Georgia, LSU, Kentucky, Louisville, Indiana, Penn State, Minnesota, Arizona, and Old Dominion. During that stretch, home attendance grew from an average of 600 fans to more than 4,000 per game by the 2009–10 season, establishing the Murphy Center as one of the premier environments in women’s college basketball.
Hodges returned to the staff from 2014–17, helping the Blue Raiders capture the 2015–16 Conference USA Championship and earn their 18th NCAA Tournament appearance. The 2014–15 team also made a deep postseason run, advancing to the WNIT Quarterfinals.
Throughout his career, Hodges has played a key role in developing elite talent. He worked with Alex Johnson, the 2015–16 Conference USA Freshman of the Year and a three-time All-CUSA selection, as well as Gabby Lyon, who earned CUSA Sixth Player of the Year honors in 2016–17. Earlier in his career at Middle Tennessee, he also coached All-Americans Amber Holt, Chrissy Givens, and Alysha Clark—each of whom went on to be selected in the WNBA Draft. Holt (2007–08) and Clark (2008–09, 2009–10) each led the nation in scoring under his guidance.
Over the course of his career, Hodges has been part of eight conference championships, five NCAA Tournament appearances, and four WNIT runs. He has coached six conference players of the year and three All-Americans, with four players advancing to the WNBA.
Before returning to Murfreesboro, Hodges spent four seasons as the head coach at Morehead State, where he became the youngest Division I head coach in the nation at the time of his hiring. In his first season (2010–11), he led the Eagles to a 21–10 record—the best mark ever for a first-year head coach in program history—and coached OVC Player of the Year Chynna Bozeman to an All-America-caliber season.
Prior to that, Hodges served as an assistant coach at Chattanooga, helping the Mocs to a 25–5 record, a Southern Conference regular season championship, and a WNIT appearance in 2004–05. He mentored All-SoCon standouts Tiffani Roberson and Katasha Brown.
Hodges began his coaching career at Tennessee Tech as an undergraduate assistant under Hall of Fame coach Bill Worrell, where the Golden Eagles captured two Ohio Valley Conference regular season titles and compiled a 78–42 record during his tenure.
A graduate of Tennessee Tech, Hodges earned his bachelor’s degree in extended education with concentrations in health and history in 2004. He later became part of the inaugural graduating class of the Center for Coaching Excellence at Columbia University in 2011, a program focused on leadership development and modern coaching strategies.
Hodges is married to the former Hillary Maxwell, a championship coach who led Riverdale High School to a Tennessee state title in 2010. The couple has two children, Cooper and Isabelle.
