Tina Hayes-Arrington helped lead the Benedict College women's basketball team to a couple of unforgettable moments and record-breaking seasons. She was an essential part of the Lady Tigers' success from 2001 - 2004. Tina only played three seasons, but she made sure to make each one of them special.
She only stood 5-foot-1, but her impact was felt whenever she stepped on the floor. She was known as the sparkplug of the team, and she set the tone of every game at the starting point guard position. Those who had the pleasure of playing with her or watching her play, knew she always gave 110 percent to whatever she was doing.
She walked on campus and captured everyone's heart with her no look passes, aggressive defense, and the ability to be an effective leader. Her smile was infectious, and her play was tenacious. In her freshman season, 2001 - 2002, she was ranked fifth in the NAIA Division I individual statistics for assists. That season she also won the following awards; E.I.A.C. women's assist leader, E.I.A.C. All Freshman Team, E.I.A.C. First Team All-Academic, Benedict College's all-time leader in assists (158), and Benedict College's all-time leader in steals (96). The Lady Tigers were ranked No. 1 in the E.I.A.C., and they finished second in the E.I.A.C. Tournament. They received an at-large bid, the first ever in school history, to the NAIA Division National Tournament.
In her second season, 2002 - 2003, she picked up where she left off. She made the E.I.A.C. First Team All-Academic Team once again. She also made the Second Team All-Tournament Selection at the Holiday Inn Northeast Tip-Off Classic. After sustaining a shoulder injury the previous season, she managed to come back full throttle and was awarded the Lady Tiger's Most Valuable Player.
The 2003-2004 season would be her last season of play, and she went out with a bang. Benedict College re-entered the SIAC, and the men's and women's teams swept the SIAC Tournament as Conference Champs. That was the first time any team had done that since 1979. Tina won the following awards that season: SIAC First Team All-Academic, ALL SIAC Tournament Hustle Award, and the Benedict Lady Tigers Hustle Award. The 2003 - 2004 Lady Tigers were also recognized by South Carolina's General Assembly.
Tina graduated Cum Laude in May 2004 with her Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. After graduating from Benedict, she was an assistant coach at Coral Glades High School for four years. She pushed her girls to be scholars in the classroom with her education first style of coaching. She mentored countless youths and encouraged all who would listen to further their education. She has always been an HBCU advocate and she still considers Benedict College to be the best HBCU in the world.
Tina currently resides in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., with her husband and college sweetheart, Rev. Willie Arrington, Sr. They have three kids - Willie Arrington, Jr. (deceased), Nevaeh Arrington (11) and Willie Arrington, Ill (1). For the last seven years, she been a branch office administrator and a regional mentor with Edward Jones Investments. In her spare time, she loves hanging with her family, supporting her beloved Dillard High School, and raising two of the best kids on the planet.
