NSMA Names ECSU’s Tynesha Lewis as 2023 Big House Gaines Award Winner

Photo taken in Macclesfield NC April 8, 2023 by The DCN
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Rodney Terry, the men’s head coach at the University of Texas, and Tynesha Lewis, the women’s head coach at Elizabeth City State University (NC) have been named the Clarence “Big House” Gaines College Basketball Coaches of the Year by the National Sports Media Association.

Terry, the Division 1 winner of the Gaines Award, began the 2022-23 season as the Longhorns’ associate head coach before becoming the acting head coach on December 12 and interim head coach on January 5. Under those challenging circumstances, Terry led the Longhorns to a 22-8 record that included the Big 12 Tournament championship and three wins in the NCAA Tournament that landed them in the Elite Eight.

Lewis, the Division 2 winner, led the Vikings to a 20-11 record, the team’s first Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Tournament championship, and the school’s first berth in the NCAA Tournament, all in her second season as ECSU head coach. The Gaines Awards will be presented during the NSMA’s 63rd awards banquet on June 26, 2023, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Born in Angleton, Texas, Terry served as a high school head coach in his home state, as well as an assistant coach at several colleges, before spending seven seasons as head coach at Fresno State and three seasons as head coach at UTEP. He returned to the Longhorns as associate head coach for the 2021-22 season. Terry graduated from St. Edward’s University in 1990, where he was a three-year starter at point guard.

Lewis is a Macclesfield, N.C. native, who earned two bachelor’s degrees while a four-time All-ACC player and graduate assistant coach at North Carolina State. After a six-year stint in the WNBA, she continued her coaching career as an assistant at Illinois State and North Carolina Central. Along the way, Lewis also earned two master’s degrees.

ABOUT THE CLARENCE “BIG HOUSE” GAINES AWARDS

The Clarence “Big House” Gaines College Basketball Coach of the Year Awards are presented to the head coach in NCAA Divisions 1 and 2, who may not earn recognition from mainstream outlets. An NSMA committee votes on the awards at the conclusion of the NCAA men’s and women’s tournaments.

Gaines was the head basketball coach at Winston-Salem (NC) State University for 47 seasons. His teams won 828 games, including the 1967 NCAA Division II National Championship. That team was led by Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, who went on to an NBA Hall of Fame career. Among other notable players Gaines coached were Cleo Hill, the first NBA first-round draft choice from a historically Black college or university, and sports media personality Stephen A. Smith. A former president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), Gaines was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982. He died in 2005.

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Former WNBA and Wolfpack Player Tynesha R. Lewis Named ECSU Women’s Basketball Head Coach

Photo Credit: Tynesha Facebook Page
Congratulations to my cousin on her new journey. I had the opportunity to record the games at SouthWest Edgecombe High School when she played there.

Elizabeth City State University has named former WNBA and Wolfpack player Tynesha R. Lewis as its next Head Women’s Basketball Coach. Athletic Director George Bright announced the hire at a virtual press conference Thursday evening held in the Thorpe Administration building.

“The pressure faced to provide an incredible head coach and leader for our women’s basketball program was something that we took very seriously,” said A.D. Bright. “We’re hiring a seasoned veteran who has absolutely earned the right to be a head coach.”

Coaches says A.D. Bright, have a critical, positive and significant impact on the lives of student-athletes here at ECSU and across the country. Ms. Lewis is, he says, the right coach at the right time to lead the Mighty Vikings women’s basketball program now and into the future.

“I am grateful to have the opportunity to serve as the head coach of ECSU. The opportunity to return to the 252 is both exciting and humbling,” said Ms. Lewis. “I do not take lightly the responsibility of mentoring, coaching and molding the lives of young adults. The goal of our program is to win everywhere. Win in the classroom. Win on the court. Win in the community. Above all, win in life.”

Drafted by the Houston Comets as the 31^st pick in the 2001 WNBA Draft, Ms. Lewis went on to play in the WNBA for six seasons. Her career is highlighted by two seasons with the Comets in 2001-03, two seasons with the Charlotte Stings in 2003-05, spending her final season in the league with the Minnesota Lynx in 2005-06.

She brings a wealth of experience as a player at the highest level of women’s basketball competition in America. (Read more)