Tina signed a volleyball scholarship with Mississippi State University following a stellar prep career at Bradshaw High School where she was a three sport athlete. She earned All-State honors in volleyball and also played basketball and ran track. While at Mississippi State she was first team All SEC as a senior and also played on the softball team. In 1992 she began her coaching career at Northwest Shoals Community College which was the first year of volleyball at Shoals. She built the program into a perennial power in Junior college compiling a record of 444-137 in 12 seasons at the school. She guided the Lady Patriots to the National Tournament seven times and her teams won seven state titles. Tina was Regional Coach of the Year three times and was seven times Alabama Coach of the Year. She became became the head coach in volleyball at Mississippi State in 2004 quickly building the team into a conference contender.