Taja Edwards Diaz has been appointed as the new Head Coach of our Girls Varsity Basketball Team. Coach Diaz played collegiately at Fresno State where she helped the Bulldogs win four consecutive WAC championships and made four trips to the NCAA tournament. She brings extensive coaching experience from collegiate and professional basketball, including roles in the Ivy League, Power 5 conferences, NBA, and WNBA.

Most recently, Coach Diaz served as a Pro-Scout for the Indiana Fever and an Assistant Coach for the Phoenix Mercury, where she coordinated player development and game strategy. Her collegiate coaching experience includes key positions at Texas Christian University, Loyola Marymount, Dartmouth College, USC, Cal State Fullerton, and Ole Miss. At USC, Loyola Marymount and Dartmouth she held dual coaching and recruiting responsibilities, giving her the experience in collegiate athletics that will serve Lovett’s student athletes well. In addition to her basketball responsibilities, Coach Diaz is an Associate Teacher for 5th grade.

Julie Brentzel is a dedicated Strength and Conditioning Coach with over a decade of experience in athletic performance and education. Julie holds a Master’s in Sports Medicine with a concentration on Strength and Conditioning from Armstrong State University and a Bachelor's of Kinesiology and Health Promotions from the University of Kentucky. She currently serves as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach and Upper School Physical Education Department Chair at The Lovett School. Her background includes roles at Savannah College of Art and Design and Armstrong State University, where she developed and implemented tailored strength and conditioning programs. She holds multiple certifications, including NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, USA Weightlifting, and Precision Nutrition.