Syracuse University introduces Legette-Jack as women’s basketball head coach

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — She was a standout performer for the Syracuse University women’s basketball team as a player in the 1980s, and now, Felisha Legette-Jack is ready for a second act with the program as its new head coach.

Syracuse University on Monday introduced Legette-Jack, 55, as the team’s 7th head coach during a press event held at the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center. Legette-Jack begins her duties as head coach “immediately,” Syracuse University Athletics said in a news release about the hiring.

“Coach Legette-Jack is the right person at the right time to lead this program,” John Wildhack, director of athletics at Syracuse University, said in his remarks. “She earned and deserves this opportunity.”

Monday’s introduction comes just months after Legette-Jack became the first female in Syracuse basketball history to have her jersey retired when her No. 33 jersey was raised to the rafters of the Carrier Dome on Nov. 14 of last year.

“So, welcome home coach. We are with you all the way,” Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud said in his remarks to begin the introductory event.

The Syracuse native, Legette-Jack, returns to her alma mater after serving as head coach of the women’s basketball team at the University at Buffalo. The Bulls lost to Tennessee in the first round of this year’s women’s NCAA Tournament. It was the fourth NCAA Tournament appearance for the Bulls under Legette-Jack.

She takes over head-coaching duties from Vonn Read, who served as the acting coach for the women’s team during this past season after the resignation of former head coach Quentin Hillsman, following reported allegations of inappropriate conduct in the program.

“Coach Read is an excellent basketball coach and he’s a good person,” Wildhack said during the morning ceremony. Read led Syracuse to an 11-18 overall record (4-14 ACC) in his one season at the helm.

In his remarks, Wildhack said he was “struck” when Legette-Jack told him that she watched “every single minute of every game” that the Syracuse women played this past season.

“I’m excited. I’m humbled,” Legette-Jack said in addressing the gathering inside the Melo Center.

She also outlined her vision in the Syracuse news release.

“My goal is simple: Pursue championships in the classroom and on the basketball court. We will build our program with our C.A.B. philosophy: character, academics and basketball. We will work tirelessly to help our team understand that character will always be first, academics will be a close second and we will find the best athletes in the world to make you all proud,” Legette-Jack said.

About Legette-Jack 

She brings a résumé of basketball accomplishments to her new role as head coach of the Syracuse women’s team.

As a player, Legette-Jack led Nottingham High School in Syracuse to a pair of state titles before attending Syracuse University, where she was a standout player on Coach Barbara Jacobs’ teams from 1984-89.

During her playing days, Legette-Jack earned Big East Freshman of the Year honors after helping lead the Orange to their first Big East championship in school history. She finished her career as the program’s all-time leader in points, rebounds, field goals made and attempted, and free throws made and attempted, Syracuse said.

After graduating from Syracuse with bachelor’s degrees in child and family studies and psychology in 1989, Legette-Jack began her coaching career at Westhill Senior High School in suburban Syracuse in 1989.

She made the move to the collegiate level as an assistant at Boston College (BC) from 1991-93. Following her stint at BC, Legette-Jack returned home to Syracuse as an assistant on Coach Marianna Freeman’s staff from 1993-2000. She left in 2000 to become an assistant coach at Michigan State for two seasons, before landing her first head-coaching job at Hofstra in 2002.

Named head coach at Indiana University in 2006, Legette-Jack guided that program for six years. She led the Hoosiers to consecutive WNITs (Women’s National Invitation Tournament) in her first three seasons, including a 20-win season and WNIT quarterfinal appearance in 2009.

Her time with the Hoosier program ended in March 2012 when Indiana fired Legette-Jack following a 6-24 season, per a March 12, 2012 article on the ESPN website.

Later that year, she returned to the Empire State when Legette-Jack was named the head coach at Buffalo.

In addition to her Syracuse jersey retirement, Legette-Jack is enshrined in multiple halls of fame, including the Greater Syracuse Hall of Fame, the Syracuse Urban Sports Hall of Fame ,and the Syracuse University Orange Plus Hall of Fame. She was named to the Big East Silver Anniversary team in 2004, the school said.

“I thank you all. I don’t have a lot of words to say other than … let’s get to work,” Legette-Jack said.