Tangela Faulkner enters her first season as Interim Head Women's Basketball Coach at Clinton College, bringing a wealth of experience as both a former student-athlete and coach. A graduate of the University of Mount Olive, Faulkner was inducted into the university's Athletics Hall of Fame following a distinguished career as a two-sport student-athlete.

During her basketball career at Mount Olive, Faulkner established herself as one of the most accomplished players in program history. She earned All-Conference honors twice, ranked fifth nationally in scoring with 22.4 points per game, averaged more than nine rebounds per contest, and scored 605 points in a single season—the second-highest single-season total in program history. She also became the first Trojan women's basketball player to surpass 1,000 career points in just two seasons.

Before joining Clinton College, Faulkner built a strong coaching résumé at both the grassroots and high school levels. She spent four years as an assistant coach with the Wayne County Blazers AAU program in Goldsboro, North Carolina, helping develop young student-athletes and preparing them for success at the next level. She later volunteered for two seasons with the girls' basketball program at Charles B. Aycock High School before being named Head Women's Basketball Coach. In addition to leading the basketball program, she also served as Head Volleyball Coach and coached Winter and Spring Track. Under her leadership, each of the three programs advanced to postseason competition every year, reflecting her commitment to building competitive, disciplined, and successful teams.

Faulkner's experiences as both a player and coach continue to shape her coaching philosophy. She believes in developing the whole student-athlete by creating an environment that emphasizes accountability, discipline, servant leadership, and personal growth. She is committed to building meaningful relationships with her players while challenging them to reach their highest potential both on and off the court.

Since joining Clinton College, Faulkner has made a significant impact across Golden Bears Athletics while serving as Head Women's Volleyball Coach, Associate Athletic Director, Senior Woman Leader, and Compliance Officer. Under her leadership, the volleyball program has reached unprecedented heights, capturing the program's first South Regional Championship, producing the winningest season in school history, earning multiple postseason appearances—including back-to-back trips to the NCCAA National Championship—and developing the program's first All-American student-athlete. Her teams have also established numerous program records while maintaining a strong commitment to academic excellence.

As Head Women's Basketball Coach, Faulkner is committed to building a championship culture rooted in hard work, integrity, accountability, teamwork, and service. Guided by her Christian faith, she strives to mentor young women to become leaders of character who excel in the classroom, in competition, and in their communities.

Faulkner's vision for Clinton Women's Basketball is to establish a nationally respected program that competes for championships while developing confident, resilient, and purpose-driven women prepared for success long after their playing careers have ended.