Former George Mason basketball standout Amber Easter completed her first season as the program's director of basketball operations in 2017-18. Easter, who played for the Patriots from 2009-13, spent the previous two seasons as a graduate assistant at VCU.
In Easter's first season on staff in 2017-18, the Patriots set a school record for wins (24), made the postseason for just the third time in program history - and first in 14 years - and won a postseason game for the first time in program history as they reached the second round of the WNIT. The 24-10 record marked Mason's first winning season in 14 years. They also finished fourth in the Atlantic 10 with 11 conference wins for their highest conference finish and most conference wins since 2003-04. Mason also set program records for longest home winning streak (13 games) and most home wins (17) during the 2017-18 season. The Patriots' 11 non-conference victories were their most in 30 years.
Easter, a native of Hampton, Va., served as a graduate assistant at VCU under head coach Beth O'Boyle. Easter contributed to player development, provided on-court instruction and created scouting reports.
She also assisted the director of basketball operations in day to day operations and the recruiting coordinator by managing and creating recruiting logs and creating player and coaches databases for recruits and current student-athletes. She also served as social media liaison.
In her two years at VCU, the Rams were 39-25. In 2015-16, the Rams won 23 games, reached the semifinals of the A-10 women's basketball tournament and reached the WNIT.
Prior to VCU, Easter worked at Bethel High School in Hampton as an assistant girls basketball coach and the head junior varsity coach for two years. During the 2014-15 season, Bethel complied a 21-1 mark and was the 6A South State runner-up. During that time, Easter was a mentor at Together Lives Change, which helps students assist students with social environment and associated difficulties.
During her four-year collegiate career, Easter was a 1,000-point scorer for the Patriots and finished her career 11th on the all-time scoring charts (1,277). She ranks fifth in program history in career rebounds (753), ninth in blocked shots (65), 17th in assists (192) and 20th in steals (135). She averaged 10.6 points and 6.3 rebounds in 120 career games.
As a freshman in 2009-10, she was named to the Colonial Athletic Association All-Rookie Team. Easter, who graduated from Mason in 2013 with a degree in psychology, was also named to the CAA All-Academic Second Team as a senior.
