1989-90 team advancing to the second
round. During her tenure, those teams
posted a record of 103-47 and her last two
seasons those 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.
McNelis at a Glance
Hometown
“I believe that you can have an interest
in a lot of things, but you have to have pas-
sion,” McNelis said. “I’m very passionate
about being the head coach here, and I’m
passionate about the job. I think it’s bigger
than basketball.”
While at Southern Miss, McNelis was
responsible for recruiting. Several of her class-
es were ranked in the Top 10 nationally. She
also had a hand in recruiting Janice Felder, a
1994 Kodak All-American and the most decorated Lady 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 summer basketball camp.
McNelis’ accomplishments do not end
with basketball. While at Memphis, she
High School
Hancock High School
Alma Mater
The University of Southern Mississippi
Bachelor’s degree
(business distributive education), 1984
Master’s degree (Education), 1986
Collegiate Playing Experience
Southern Miss, 1980-84
No. 8 All-Time Leading Scorer ( 1,512 Pts.)
Southern Miss Sports Hall of Fame (1997)
Coaching Experience
Southern Miss (2004-present) – 98-116
The University of Memphis
The University of Southern Mississippi,
Assistant Coach (1986-1991) – 103-47
Southwest Texas State University,
Assistant Coach (1984-1986) – 26-30
Coaching Honors
• Career Record: 327-272 (.545)
• Four NCAA Tournament appearances (1995,
1996, 1997, 1998)
• Five WNIT appearances
(1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2008)
• WNIT Final Four appearance (1999)
• 1998 Conference USA Regular-Season
Champions
• 1998 Conference USA Tournament
Champions
• 1997 Conference USA Regular Season
Tri-Champions
• 1996 Conference USA Tournament
Championship
• 1995 Great Midwest Regular Season
Championship
• Coached four conference
Newcomers of the Year
• Coached 23 all-conference players
• Coached seven C-USA all-freshman team
members
• Coached Sixth Player of the Year
• Coached the 1998 and 1999
C-USA Player of the Year
• Finalist for the 1995 National
Coach of the Year
• Tabbed by Basketball Times as One of the
Nation’s “Coaches on the Rise”
McNelis’ Year-by-Year Record
Year
1991-92
1992-93
1993-94
1994-95
1995-96
1996-97
1997-98
Overall
12-17
12-16
17-12
22-8
20-11
22-7
22-8
Pct.
.414
.429
.586
.733
.645
.759
.733
Conf.
4-6
3-7
7-5
10-2
10-4
12-2
14-2
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
TOTALS
22-10
18-12
17-13
11-17
13-15
21-10
9-19
14-15
15-15
21-14
20-12
9-21
10-20
327-272
.688
.600
.567
.393
.464
.677
.473
.483
.500
.600
.625
.300
.333
.545
10-6
11-5
9-7
5-9
6-8
9-5
3-11
10-6
9-7
8-8
11-5
5-11
5-11
161-127
(Great Midwest Reg. Season Champion/NCAA Second Round)
(C-USA Tournament Champions/NCAA)
(C-USA Regular Season Tri-Champions/NCAA)
(C-USA Reg. Season Champions/C-USA
Tourney Champions/NCAA First Round)
(WNIT Final Four)
(WNIT Second Round)
(WNIT First Round)
(WNIT Second Round)
( WNI T Third Round)
