Columbia, MD - Newly minted head coach Danielle Durjan wasted no time in filling out her coaching staff for the 2026-27 season, with a trio of highly qualified assistant coaches cemented in with Taariq Cephas being named as the associate head coach while Nico Muniz, and Courtney Furr join the program to round out the staff.
Cephas was an integral part of the coaching staff at CCBC Essex, where they enjoyed unprecedented success including the 2023 NJCAA National Championship with a record of 35-1. The season prior, Cephas helped the Knights to an MD JUCO Championship as well as a Region 20 Championship. The Knights earned a trip to the 2022 NJCAA Final Four and finished third in the country with a record of 35-1. In his first season at Essex, Cephas helped the program to a 2020 Region 20 Title before the NJCAA Tournament, and the following campaign was canceled due to Covid. Cephas helped build the CCBC Essex Women's basketball program from the ground up as they did not have a team the previous fifteen years prior.
Cephas played a pivotal role as a player development specialist and defensive coordinator during his time at CCBC Essex. He helped produce six JUCO All Americans including 2023 National Player of the year Faith Blackstone who went on to play for Stephen F. Austin and Rutgers. As the Defensive coordinator, the Knights held their opponents to an average of 55 points per game on 31% shooting from the field.
A four-year starter at Coppin State, Cephas earned Third Team All-MEAC accolades as a senior in 2015 after being named to the All-Rookie Team in 20212. Cephas was just the second player in CSU history to record at least 1,000 points and 400 assists. Cephas ranks second all-time at Coppin with 451 assists while sitting 19th in points (1,084), ninth in steals (149) and fifth in games played (124).
Muniz joins Howard Community College as an assistant coach, bringing a strong background in player development and a passion for building winning programs. A former junior college student-athlete, Muniz understands firsthand the value of the JUCO experience and is committed to helping student-athletes grow both on and off the court.
Prior to arriving at Howard Community College, Muniz gained valuable coaching experience at the NCAA Division I level with Morgan State University, where he assisted in player development, as well as working professionally within the WNBA as a practice player. These experiences have helped shape his approach to all aspects of the game, culture-building, and mentorship.
"I'm incredibly excited to be here and grateful for the opportunity to join Howard Community College," said Muniz. "This is a special place, and I'm looking forward to building something great with our players and staff while continuing to develop strong, confident young women."
Muniz grew up in Howard County, playing basketball for both DeMatha Catholic High School and Hammond where he graduated as varsity captain in 2022.
Furr joins Howard CC women's basketball with a strong playing and coaching background rooted in the Maryland area. A native of Elkridge, Maryland, Furr was a four-year varsity player at Howard High School, where she helped lead the program to three county championships.
Furr went on to play NCAA Division I basketball at Stony Brook University, where she was part of a team that earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament, competing at the highest level of collegiate basketball.
Following her playing career, Furr returned to Howard High School as an assistant coach, where she has spent the past three years focusing on player development and helping build a competitive, team-first culture.
Furr is passionate about growing the game and is excited to bring her experience and energy to Howard CC as she looks to help build a winning program both on and off the court.
The coaching staff under the direction of coach Durjan has already hit the recruiting trail hard, with several high profile recruits already in the works to join the new era at Howard CC.
