Joye Lee-McNelis Named USM Women's Basketball Coach

Joye Lee-McNelis

Southern Miss Director of Athletics Richard Giannini has announced the employment of former Golden Eagle basketball standout and Southern Miss Sports Hall of Fame enshrinee Joye Lee-McNelis as the school’s fourth head women’s basketball coach, today, at a news conference held on the campus. Her appointment and the terms of her contract are still subject to the approval of the IHL Board.

"We are extremely pleased to have Joye return to Southern Miss and once again join the Golden Eagle family," Giannini said. "She has demonstrated throughout her 13-year tenure at Memphis that she is an outstanding recruiter, teacher and coach, but more importantly, she is a terrific person. I think she’ll have a tremendous impact on the women’s basketball program at the University of Southern Mississippi and the entire state of Mississippi."

McNelis spent the last 13 seasons as head coach at the University of Memphis, where she compiled a 229-156 record. She took over a program that had won just 21 games in the three previous seasons, including back-to-back 6-22 finishes. McNelis is credited with leading her teams to four-consecutive conference championships, five-consecutive 20-win seasons and eight postseason tournament appearances. She coached 14 all-conference players and has two former players currently playing in the WNBA. In 1999, her Lady Tiger team entered the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time in 14 years. Over the past 13 seasons, 32 players who have competed in the program have completed their degrees.

"I’m excited about the opportunity of coming home and being with family," McNelis said. "That probably was the biggest factor that influenced my decision. It gives my children the chance to grow up and spend more time with their grandparents. In regards to Southern Miss women’s basketball, my number one priority is to take the program back to the lofty heights that it enjoyed during Coach Kay James’ tenure. I played and coached for her, and both were great experiences. We want to revive the tradition that people have associated with Southern Miss women’s basketball."

McNelis spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Southern Miss (1986-91). The 1990 and 1987 squads won the Metro Conference tournament championship. The 1986-87, 1988-89 and 1989-90 teams participated in the NCAA Tournament, with the 1989-90 team advancing to the second round. Her last two seasons at Southern Miss, the teams posted a 53-10 record, including the most wins in a season with 27 in 1989-90 and finished the season ranked in the Top 20.

While at Southern Miss, McNelis was responsible for recruiting. Several of her classes were ranked in the Top 10 nationally. She recruited Janice Felder, a 1994 Kodak All-American and the most decorated Eagle in the program’s history.

Prior to accepting the Southern Miss position, McNelis spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Southwest Texas State University, where she served as recruiting coordinator and was co-director of the school summer basketball camp.

The Leetown, Miss., native, was a four-year letterwinner and starter for the Lady Eagles from 1980-84. She helped Southern Miss advance to its first postseason play in 1981, when the Lady Eagles advanced to the second round of the AIAW Region Tournament. McNelis currently ranks among the leaders in seven statistical categories, including all-time list in scoring with 1,512 points, eighth in scoring average (14.0 ppg), field goals made and attempted, free throws made and attempted and free throw percentage.

She was a four-year letterwinner in basketball at Hancock North Central High School. Her teams went to the state tournament four-straight years and twice won state titles. She still reigns as the school’s all-time leading scorer.

On April 19, 1993, McNelis’ high school jersey No. 14 was retired, along with Green Bay Packer quarterback Brett Favre. That day was declared Joye Lee-McNelis-Brett Favre Day by Hancock County.

McNelis garnered another prestigious honor as she was inducted into the Southern Miss Sports Hall of Fame in 1997, also sharing the spotlight with Brett Favre once again.

McNelis is married to Dennis McNelis and the couple has two children, Whitney (13) and Conner (9).

"It’s a great day in Southern Miss Lady Eagle Athletics to bring Joye Lee-McNelis back home," Associate Director and Senior Woman Administrator Sonya Varnell said. "We are proud of that accomplishment. I believe the coaches we’re bringing here to Southern Miss are putting us in a place to do exciting things on the women’s side. We’re excited to have her as a part of the Lady Eagle family once again."