Southern Miss women’s basketball head coach Joye Lee-McNelis announced the additions of Kaitlynn Pacholke and Mack Gardner to her staff, while former graduate assistant Warner Parkes has been elevated to the role of Director of Basketball Operations.
Pacholke joins McNelis’ staff as an Assistant Coach after spending the past four years as an assistant at the University of Evansville. She will also serve as the team’s Recruiting Coordinator. Pacholke comes from a coaching background, as she played all four years for her mother, Laurie, at Land O’ Lakes High School and Freedom High School in Florida. She ended her career at Freedom HS as the school’s all-time steals and assist leader en route to a McDonald’s All-American nomination.
A graduate of Newberry College in South Carolina, Pacholke brings championship experience to the Hub City capturing a South Atlantic Conference championship in her senior season with the Wolves. The Tampa, Fla. native began her coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Florida, where she served in a multitude of roles.
“We are excited to add Coach Kaitlynn Pacholke,” McNelis added. “KP gained a lot of knowledge about the game from her mother and from Point Guard College, which is consider one of the best camps in the country in the development of players. She is a bundle of energy, and her enthusiasm and passion for our team has shown through our workouts. Kaitlynn brings experience in coaching, recruiting and developing point guards. She is known for her relentless work ethic and developing relationships with people, especially with the players. We are delighted to have her as a part of the Lady Eagle Family.”
Garner, a former graduate assistant for the Lady Eagles, rejoins McNelis’ staff as the Director of Player Development, after spending the past six years as the head coach of Forrest County Agricultural High School in Brooklyn. During his tenure, the Aggies captured a pair of region championships, while qualifying for the MHSAA playoffs four times and was named as a MHSAA Scholar-Athlete team during all six years of Gardner’s tenure.
Gardner was selected to coach in the 2019 MHSAA North/South All Star game, where he coached current Lady Eagles Brikayla Gray and Melyia Grayson. The Lexington, Tenn., native got his start in coaching at UT Martin as a student assistant for the Skyhawks, while also spending three years as the head coach at Brookhaven Academy, where he led the Cougars to a MAIS Semifinal appearance.
“We welcome Coach Mack Gardner back to the Lady Eagle Basketball Program,” McNelis added. “Mack grew up in the gym with his dad, Tim Gardner, a successful high school coach in west Tennessee. His knowledge and love for the game runs deep within him due to growing up on the court. He is a student of the game.
“After being a high school coach, he has an insight to helping today’s student-athlete be successful in all walks of life. I am excited to have Mack and his wife Kelly join our Lady Eagle program. Mack will be an asset to us in many ways. He knows me, and understands what I expect from my staff in going the extra mile to help make our Lady Eagles live their dreams.”
After spending the past season as a graduate assistant, Parkes will now serve as the Director of Basketball Operations for the Lady Eagles. Prior to joining Southern Miss, Parkes was the head girl’s basketball coach at Nanih Waiya High School where was able to turn the program around, increasing the win total by 15 games in just two seasons.
The Louisville, Miss., native spent two seasons on staff at Mississippi State University with the women’s basketball team as a student manager and special assistant to the Director of Basketball Operations. He helped guide the Bulldogs to two NCAA National Championship games and win both a regular-season SEC Championship and two NCAA Region Championships, assisting with scouting, game planning, on-campus recruiting, and on-court player development.
“Warner has a great work ethic and passion for women’s basketball,” said McNelis. “His experience as a high school coach, working with Coach Vic Schaffer, the former Mississippi State Head Coach, and his time spent with us made him the person for the position as Director of Basketball Operations. Warner has and will continue to spend countless hours to help us continue the tradition of winning within Lady Eagle Basketball. We are grateful to have Warner as our Director of Basketball Operations.”