University of Memphis Athletics
Joye Lee-McNelis Named to 2026 Conference USA Hall of Fame Class
Jul 08, 2026 | Women's Basketball
DALLAS – Conference USA has named its 2026 class of Hall of Fame inductees, including Memphis' women's basketball's second-winningest head coach, the late Joye Lee-McNelis.
McNelis, the program's second-winningest coach, led the Tigers to a pair of regular season and conference tournament championships in her time coaching at Memphis while the Tigers competed in Conference USA, compiling a record of 86-48 (.642) in CUSA play. The Tigers had 13 All-CUSA selections during McNelis' tenure, including the only two Tigers to ever play in the WNBA in LaTonya Johnson and two-time CUSA Player of the Year Tamika Whitmore. She also coached a conference Defensive Player of the Year (Kitty Allen) and a Sixth Player of the Year (Victoria Crawford), along with becoming a two-time CUSA Coach of the Year after she returned to Southern Miss, her alma mater.
Her full tenure at Memphis was highlighted by guiding the Tigers to four NCAA Tournament berths and four appearances in the WNIT, where the program reached the semifinals in 1999. She finished her Tiger coaching career with a record of 229-156 while being a finalist for the National Coach of the Year in 1995.
McNelis' career was filled with recognition, as in addition to being a two-time CUSA Coach of the Year, she received the 2024 Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award, was named the 2025 USA TODAY Mississippi Woman of the Year and was the first member of the 2025 Memphis Sports Hall of Fame class.
After her final season at Memphis in 2004, McNelis returned to her alma mater and won 339 games as Southern Miss' head coach, reaching the WNIT five times and reaching the Super 16 in 2023-24.
Her 231 career CUSA wins across 26 seasons in the conference are the most by a coach in their career and are 51 more than the second-most, per the Conference USA office.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Women's Basketball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
McNelis, the program's second-winningest coach, led the Tigers to a pair of regular season and conference tournament championships in her time coaching at Memphis while the Tigers competed in Conference USA, compiling a record of 86-48 (.642) in CUSA play. The Tigers had 13 All-CUSA selections during McNelis' tenure, including the only two Tigers to ever play in the WNBA in LaTonya Johnson and two-time CUSA Player of the Year Tamika Whitmore. She also coached a conference Defensive Player of the Year (Kitty Allen) and a Sixth Player of the Year (Victoria Crawford), along with becoming a two-time CUSA Coach of the Year after she returned to Southern Miss, her alma mater.
Her full tenure at Memphis was highlighted by guiding the Tigers to four NCAA Tournament berths and four appearances in the WNIT, where the program reached the semifinals in 1999. She finished her Tiger coaching career with a record of 229-156 while being a finalist for the National Coach of the Year in 1995.
McNelis' career was filled with recognition, as in addition to being a two-time CUSA Coach of the Year, she received the 2024 Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award, was named the 2025 USA TODAY Mississippi Woman of the Year and was the first member of the 2025 Memphis Sports Hall of Fame class.
After her final season at Memphis in 2004, McNelis returned to her alma mater and won 339 games as Southern Miss' head coach, reaching the WNIT five times and reaching the Super 16 in 2023-24.
Her 231 career CUSA wins across 26 seasons in the conference are the most by a coach in their career and are 51 more than the second-most, per the Conference USA office.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Women's Basketball, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Saturday, April 18
Wednesday, April 01
Wednesday, April 01
Wednesday, February 25