You can’t break up a winning team.

Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach Bryan Tatum, who became part of Wolfpack athletics this July, and head women’s basketball Coach Kellie Harper are back working alongside each other and proving the truth of this statement every day.

Before beginning her tenure at N.C. State, Harper coached the Catamounts of Western Carolina to a Southern Conference title in 2009. During that season, Tatum was the strength and conditioning coach for the women’s basketball team in Cullowhee.

While Tatum has been able to guide programs towards success, he has also had personal achievements as an athlete. During his student years at West Liberty State College, Tatum played defensive back for the football team and was a part of a conference championship-winning effort in 2000. He captained the team during his junior and senior seasons, and was All-West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection at defensive back . After graduating with a bachelor of science degree in exercise physiology and working in athletics for West Liberty, Western Kentucky and Western Carolina, Tatum has brought his wife and two young sons to Raleigh. 

As far as his goals at NCSU, Tatum hopes to aid the women’s basketball, men’s and women’s golf, rifle, track & field and cross country programs. When asked about his new position at State, Tatum expressed how his high expectations mirror those of Wolfpack athletics.

“I’m really excited to be here,” Tatum said. “Everything is on an upswing in the athletic department. It’s an awesome coaching staff, the kids have good attitudes, and the desire to be