Concordia Irvine Athletics

Chelsey Pinkstaff joined the Concordia women’s basketball coaching staff in the summer of 2013. Pinkstaff came to CUI after serving as the graduate assistant at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, where she worked under Hall of Fame head coach Sylvia Hatchell and current Concordia head coach Trisha Stafford-Odom.

Prior to UNC, Pinkstaff served as an assistant varsity coach at Seneca High School in Seneca, South Carolina.  During her time in South Carolina, she started a competitive girls AAU organization called Upstate Elite. For two years she coached a 13U team as well as a 17U team. Pinkstaff’s 13U teams finished in the top five at nationals two years straight. During the summer of 2011, she coached at the prestigious Florida State University basketball camp for FSU head coach Sue Semrau.

She is originally from Knoxville, Tennessee where she was a high school player at Christian Academy of Knoxville. Following high school, Pinkstaff played basketball at Clemson University for head coach Christy McKinney. She graduated from Clemson with a B.S. in psychology as well as a dual minor in nutrition and athletic leadership.

Following her playing career at Clemson, Pinkstaff played on tour with Athletes In Action in the Czech Republic. In 2013 Pinkstaff led the Shaw University women’s basketball team to the 2013 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament Championship.  She is currently completing her master’s in Coaching and Athletic Administration at Concordia. She is known for her high energy, passion, and knowledge of the game.