University of Detroit Mercy Athletics

Kayla Bridges joined the Detroit Mercy women’s basketball staff as a Graduate Student Assistant Coach in May 2025.
 
Prior to Detroit Mercy, Bridges served as a Graduate Assistant Coach for the Wayne State women's basketball coaching staff in 2024-25 after joining as a Volunteer Assistant Coach in November of 2023 for Head Coach Carrie Lohr.
 
In her first season on Coach Lohr's staff, WSU compiled a 16-12 mark, had 10 GLIAC All-Academic honorees, and was recognized by the WBCA (Women's Basketball Coaches Association) and given "Special Mention" for posting a team GPA of at least 3.0. In addition, Shea Tripp was a First-Team All-GLIAC selection, while Gabi Lutchka was voted to the All-GLIAC Second Team.
 
Bridges was a two-time Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) All-Academic Team selection as a WSU women’s basketball team student-athlete. She graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology and earned a Master’s Degree in Public Health from WSU in December of 2018, and served as a Medical Case Manager for Henry Ford Hospital in 2017.
 
Bridges also spent five years (2015-2019) as the Varsity Assistant Coach at Plymouth High School before returning to her alma mater as the Head Varsity Coach at Canton High School in 2020-21. During her five-year tenure, Bridges led the Chiefs from a 1-20 start to winning 19 games and a district championship for the first time in 10 years during the 2023-24 season.
 
She currently serves as a coach for the U17 Michigan Crossover and also spent four years (2020-2023) as an AAU head coach for 1Nation/Michigan Anarchy.
 
Bridges, a native of Canton, Mich. was a four-year letter winner for the women’s basketball team earning All-Kensington Lakes Athletic Association South Division, Class A All-State Fourth Team, Detroit Free Press All-West Third Team, and All-Observerland Second Team honors as a senior helping the Chiefs to the Class A semifinals in 2010 (23-3 record) and again in 2011 (24-3 record).