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Xavier University Athletics
Women's Basketball
Finley, Candice
Candice Finley
- Title:
- Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
- Email:
- finleyc1@xavier.edu
- Phone:
- 513.745.3414
Candice Finley was named assistant coach/recruiting coordinator for Xavier women's basketball on April 22, 2019. She joined the Musketeers after two seasons at UMass. She was promoted to associate head coach in July of 2020.
Xavier finished the 2021-22 season with a .746 free-throw percentage, ranking third in single-season program history. The Musketeers also finished the year with 89 blocks to rank ninth in single-season program history.
Individually, Ayanna Townsend finished her career with 80 blocks to rank seventh all-time in program history. She was also tabbed the 2021-22 BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, becoming the first Musketeer to earn the academic honors.
Xavier finished the COVID-19 shortened season (2020-21) ranked second in the BIG EAST in steals per game (9.9), while ranking 35th in the NCAA. The 9.9 steals per game also ranked fourth in single-season Xavier history.
Individually, Aaliyah Dunham finished the 2020-21 campaign ranked first in the BIG EAST in assist/turnover ratio (3.17) - while ranking sixth in the NCAA. She also finished the year ranked 52nd in the NCAA in steals per game (2.47).
Finley helped coach All-BIG EAST performer A'riana Gray in 2019-20. The forward led the conference in rebounding for the second time in as many seasons. She also helped coach point guard Aaliyah Dunham who finished the season averaging 4.5 assists per game, ranking fourth in the BIG EAST.
In two seasons at UMass, Finley helped the Minutewomen post 30 wins after only winning nine games during the 2016-17 season. She also served as the recruiting coordinator during her time in Amherst, hauling in the 57th ranked class in the country last season (according to Blue Star Basketball).
Prior to UMass, she spent four seasons at Eastern Michigan (2012-16) - helping the Eagles post two 20-win seasons and advance to three postseason tournaments. The Eagles won eight games during her first season (2012-13) on the bench before recording 24 wins only two seasons later and playing in the WNIT Sweet 16.
Finley also has assistant coaching stops at Eastern Kentucky (2008-11), Southern Connecticut State (2007-08) and Romulus (Mich.) from 2003-05. She also served as head coach at Romulus from 2005-07.
Finley played professionally in Luxembourg for one season following a standout playing career at Eastern Kentucky (1997-01). She earned all-conference honors as a senior after leading the team in scoring (13.0) and rebounding (5.5). Finley also helped the Lady Colonels win the 1998 Ohio Valley Conference Championship.
The Detroit, Mich., native also won three state titles as a player at Bishop Borgess HS.
2022-present - Xavier - Associate Head Coach
2020-22 - Xavier - Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
2019-20 - Xavier - Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
2017-19 - UMass - Assistant Coach
2012-16 - Eastern Michigan - Assistant Coach
2008-12 - Eastern Kentucky - Assistant Coach
2007-08 - Southern Connecticut State - Assistant Coach
2005-07 - Romulus (Mich.) HS - Head Coach
2003-05 - Romulis (Mich.) HS - Assistant Coach
Xavier finished the 2021-22 season with a .746 free-throw percentage, ranking third in single-season program history. The Musketeers also finished the year with 89 blocks to rank ninth in single-season program history.
Individually, Ayanna Townsend finished her career with 80 blocks to rank seventh all-time in program history. She was also tabbed the 2021-22 BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, becoming the first Musketeer to earn the academic honors.
Xavier finished the COVID-19 shortened season (2020-21) ranked second in the BIG EAST in steals per game (9.9), while ranking 35th in the NCAA. The 9.9 steals per game also ranked fourth in single-season Xavier history.
Individually, Aaliyah Dunham finished the 2020-21 campaign ranked first in the BIG EAST in assist/turnover ratio (3.17) - while ranking sixth in the NCAA. She also finished the year ranked 52nd in the NCAA in steals per game (2.47).
Finley helped coach All-BIG EAST performer A'riana Gray in 2019-20. The forward led the conference in rebounding for the second time in as many seasons. She also helped coach point guard Aaliyah Dunham who finished the season averaging 4.5 assists per game, ranking fourth in the BIG EAST.
In two seasons at UMass, Finley helped the Minutewomen post 30 wins after only winning nine games during the 2016-17 season. She also served as the recruiting coordinator during her time in Amherst, hauling in the 57th ranked class in the country last season (according to Blue Star Basketball).
Prior to UMass, she spent four seasons at Eastern Michigan (2012-16) - helping the Eagles post two 20-win seasons and advance to three postseason tournaments. The Eagles won eight games during her first season (2012-13) on the bench before recording 24 wins only two seasons later and playing in the WNIT Sweet 16.
Finley also has assistant coaching stops at Eastern Kentucky (2008-11), Southern Connecticut State (2007-08) and Romulus (Mich.) from 2003-05. She also served as head coach at Romulus from 2005-07.
Finley played professionally in Luxembourg for one season following a standout playing career at Eastern Kentucky (1997-01). She earned all-conference honors as a senior after leading the team in scoring (13.0) and rebounding (5.5). Finley also helped the Lady Colonels win the 1998 Ohio Valley Conference Championship.
The Detroit, Mich., native also won three state titles as a player at Bishop Borgess HS.
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COACHING TIMELINE |
2022-present - Xavier - Associate Head Coach
2020-22 - Xavier - Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
2019-20 - Xavier - Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
2017-19 - UMass - Assistant Coach
2012-16 - Eastern Michigan - Assistant Coach
2008-12 - Eastern Kentucky - Assistant Coach
2007-08 - Southern Connecticut State - Assistant Coach
2005-07 - Romulus (Mich.) HS - Head Coach
2003-05 - Romulis (Mich.) HS - Assistant Coach
2025-26 Meet the Musketeers: Payton Richards
Friday, September 19
2025-26 Meet the Musketeers: Penda Dieng
Monday, September 08
2025-26 Meet the Musketeers: Audia Young
Thursday, September 04
2025-26 Meet the Musketeers: Mya Moore
Wednesday, August 27
