Southern Miss has named Missy Bilderback as the next women’s basketball coach.
Bilderback, a 2001 graduate of Southern Miss, returns to her alma mater after spending the last two years at Louisiana-Monroe. Her two years with the Warhawks saw ULM post its best two-season win total in nearly 20 years, while her Great Eight finish in the Postseason WNIT marked the program’s first postseason competition since 1994.
Bilderback's hiring comes after Joye Lee-McNelis announced her retirement. McNelis, who is in her third battle with lung cancer, had led the program for 21 seasons.
“We are thrilled to welcome Missy and her family back home to Hattiesburg,” said Southern Miss Director of Athletics Jeremy McClain in a press release. “Missy has established herself as one of the premier coaches in our region, accomplishing championship-level success with multiple programs. She is a proven leader who understands the importance of developing student-athletes both on and off the court. We are confident that she will build on the strong foundation of our women’s basketball program and help us to reach new heights!”
Prior to ULM, Bilderback spent eight seasons leading Jones College, where she produced an overall record of 198-33, which included seven trips to the NJCAA tournament.
During her time at Jones, 30 Bobcats were named to All-MACCC teams, while 12 former Bobcats were named NJCAA All-Americans.
“I am incredibly excited and grateful to be the next head women’s basketball coach at The University of Southern Mississippi,” said Bilderback in a press release. “I want to express my appreciation to President Dr. Joe Paul and Director of Athletics Jeremy McClain for their trust in me. I know firsthand the pride and tradition that Coach Kay James and Coach Joye Lee-McNelis established with this program, and I am honored to return home to lead the Lady Eagles. I look forward to building strong relationships with our student-athletes, investing in our amazing community, and bringing championships to Hattiesburg.”
Bilderback's coaching career began at Presbtyerian Christian School where she compiled a 482-117 record in 16 seasons. The Lady Bobcats claimed six Midsouth Association of Independent Schools state titles and brought home the overall MAIS crown in 2008 and 2014.
Before taking over at PCS, Bilderback earned two letters at Pearl River Community College as a point guard for the Wildcats. After earning her associate’s degree in Poplarville, Bilderback earned her bachelor’s degree at Southern Miss in sports administration in 2001.
Follow @AndrewAbadie on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook for Southern Miss coverage.
