Lesley University Director of Athletics Dan Campagna has announced the appointment of Martin Rather as Interim Head Coach of the Women’s Basketball program, with an effective start date of November 1.
Rather joins Lynx Nation following several successful head coaching stints at the high school level and also brings coaching experience at the AAU level.
“It is a dream come true to lead the Lesley University Women’s Basketball program this season. I am grateful to President Steinmayer and Athletic Director Campagna for the opportunity. I believe that the highest positive impact can be made through coaching at an academically excellent institution filled with dedicated student-athletes eager to change the world. This is Lesley. The University has an illustrious history of empowering its students with the tools to create a more just, humane, and sustainable society. My coaching staff and I will dedicate ourselves to creating a culture where our players dare to be great. I cannot wait to get started and grow our team.”
In 2016, Rather became one of the youngest Head Coaches in the state of Texas when he took over the YES PREP East End HS varsity Girls Basketball program in Houston, becoming the only coach in school history with a career winning percentage over .500. He led the squad to an 18-win season and a school-best 10-2 run in District games in 2017, helping the team reach the East Texas Regional Final with a top-1000 MaxPreps TX Ranking for the first time in program history. His success was highlighted by a feature segment on the ABC-13 TV news where Rather credits Rice Men’s Basketball Head Coach Scott Pera as an influential role model and mentor in coaching.
“In hiring Martin Rather, Lesley University has hired one of the bright young minds in basketball,” said Coach Pera. “Martin’s energy will be contagious as he builds a program everyone at Lesley can be proud of. He will take no short cuts; his team will be disciplined and well prepared. He is a relentless learner and has the perfect demeanor needed to lead a program. I am excited to follow the team this year and know that Martin will represent Lesley in the best way possible.”
After the stint at YES PREP, Rather was named the Head Coach of the varsity Boys Basketball program at EF Academy in Thornwood, N.Y. where he guided the unit to a WIAA Championship following a perfect 10-0 regular season record in league play during the 2019-20 campaign. Despite the 2020-21 campaign being cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rather maintained the EF program with daily practices, scrimmages and individual workouts where he focused on player-development.
Most recently, Rather had a one-year stint at Salem High School in Salem, MA as the Head Coach of the varsity Girls Basketball program for the 2022-23 campaign, doubling participation in his tenure.
“Coach Rather’s passion and commitment to the Lesley Women’s Basketball program immediately stood out during our search and I’m confident that he will play an important role in creating a new foundation to build upon going forward,” said Campagna.
Rather graduated from Rice University in Houston, TX magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Sports Management and History with a concentration in Sports Leadership. He went on to attend the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University in New York, NY and is currently studying at Harvard Law School in Cambridge, MA.
https://lesleyathletics.com/sports/wbkb/2023-24/releases/20231024mq3bsy
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