Keeshawn Carter Davenport is entering her 12th season at the helm of her alma mater. Davenport was hired for the job in 2011 after eight seasons as a player and assistant coach. 

Last season, DeArica Pryor became the first Privateer to earn Conference All-Defensive honors under Coach Davenport after she co-led the conference in steals. Jomyra Mathis also earned All-Conference and All-Louisiana honors in '22.

The Privateers earned their first Southland Tournament victory in 2022 when they defeated Northwestern State in the opening round of the tournament. 

In the last three years, three Privateers have signed contracts to play professionally overseas: Brown, Rehema Franklin and most recently, Jomyra Mathis.

2019-20 was an historic season for the Privateers. It featured the first win against an SEC school in 25 years when the Privateers defeated Ole Miss. The 17 regular season wins were the most since 1992-93 and the 13 conference wins broke a program record. Two Privateers in Franklin and Asia Woods made the All-Southland Team at the end of the season.

In 2016-17, Davenport guided the Privateers to the Southland Conference tournament for the first time since joining in 2013. New Orleans earned a five-seed in the tournament. Davenport followed that with an 11-7 conference record in 2017-18. In that two-year stretch, the Privateers went 20-8 at home.

The 11 conference wins under Davenport in 2017-18 also broke a program record. The previous high for conference victories in a season was 10, achieved twice (1991-92 and 1996-97).

Under Davenport’s guidance, Randi Brown placed herself in the record books. Brown was the first conference Freshman of the Year in program history. Brown was a three-time All-Southland selection and finished her collegiate career second in points. She also broke the school record for most three-pointers made.

Shania Woods entered the top ten in rebounding in the third game of her senior season. Woods is seventh in career field goal percentage entering the 2018-19 campaign and has 617 rebounds over her first three seasons.

Davenport took the job with only three scholarship players on the roster. By 2012-13, three players were named CollegeSportsMadness.com Independent Player of the Week: Mechel’le Thomas, Amber Clay, and Keri Thomas.

In 2013, Davenport oversaw another transition when the Privateers officially joined the Southland Conference after being an independent in transition the prior two years.

Coach Davenport has some firsts of her own: she was the first full-time third assistant in Privateer history (2003) and was the first alum to be named head coach of the Privateers (2011).

Community service has been one of the hallmarks under Davenport’s tenure. Davenport and her team have been involved with community initiatives with many organizations including Second Harvest Food Bank, Einstein Charter Schools, and Children’s Hospital.

A four-year letterwinner, Davenport saw action in 100 contests and made 32 starts for the Privateers during her undergraduate years on the Lakefront. Davenport averaged 6.1 points and 3.6 rebounds per contest over her career while serving in the role of co-captain during her senior season. Davenport also garnered recognition on the Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll.

In 2005 Davenport received her master’s degree in education from UNO with a focus on psychosocial aspects of sport and exercise.
 
Davenport went to high school at East St. John where she graduated as the all-time leading scorer while guiding the school to its first playoff win and first-ever district title during her senior season.  A two-time team captain, Davenport earned All-State and Academic All-State Honorable Mention honors in her senior season and was a three-time all-district selection.
 
Davenport and her husband, Deon reside in Kenner, La. The couple has one son, Deon Jr. and one daughter, Zoe Na'el.