The University at Buffalo and women’s basketball head coach Felisha Legette-Jack have agreed to a new five-year contract through the 2024 season, Director of Athletics Mark Alnutt announced today.
“I want to thank President Satish Tripathi and Director of Athletics Mark Alnutt for this opportunity to continue to grow our women’s basketball program,” said Legette-Jack. “We have done a tremendous job collectively to bring the program to the level that it is at now. We certainly want more! We absolutely want to build our program to new found heights. I am sincerely grateful to President Tripathi and Mr. Alnutt for entrusting me with this opportunity.”
Legette-Jack and the Bulls excelled once again this season as they defeated Ohio in the MAC Championship game to capture the program’s second MAC title in the last four years and earned an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament where the Bulls advanced to the second round for the second straight year, becoming the first MAC women’s team to win back-to-back NCAA Tournament games since Toledo in 1991-92.
Under Legette-Jack’s tutelage, the Bulls have produced six straight winning seasons and four straight 20+ win seasons for just the second time in program history. Legette-Jack also fostered the growth of one of the best players to ever wear the blue and white in Cierra Dillard, who set eight UB single-season records and two MAC single-season records this year and became the school’s first ever WNBA draft selection as she was taken 20th overall by the Minnesota Lynx in the second round of the 2019 WNBA Draft. Additionally, the Bulls had another successful year off the court as the team placed four student-athletes on the Academic All-MAC team.
“I’m very fortunate to work with Coach here at UB,” said Alnutt. “Throughout her tenure at Buffalo, her passion for excellence with our women’s basketball program both on and off the court has been second to none. Felisha has been a tremendous ambassador for UB both in the Western New York Region and nationally. I am very excited to continue working with her as we keep building our women’s basketball program to historic levels.”
The Syracuse, NY native led the Bulls to their most historic season in program history in 2017-18 as they were able to collect their first NCAA Tournament victories while advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time. The Bulls closed out their historic campaign with a program-best 29-6 overall record and a 16-2 MAC mark and ended the season ranked 21st in the nation, their first national ranking in school history.
“In the last four years we have won 95 games but more importantly, we have graduated each player that was here for those four years as well,” stated Legette-Jack. “Our players are now professional athletes, on the road to becoming doctors, and phenomenal women. I have witnessed the most amazing ladies grow, change, evolve and stand in their greatness and I am fortunate to coach each one of them. Each one sincerely believes that they matter and they are equipped for the road ahead. To grow this program to a Sweet 16 team and reach the postseason four times during our tenure is a testament of our village. Together we built it and together we will take it to the next level.”
Legette-Jack has posted a 143-86 career record as the head coach at Buffalo during her seven seasons at the helm, the second most wins by a coach in program history. Under her guidance, the Bulls have won 10 or MAC games in five of the last six seasons and are the only team in the MAC to win 19+ games in each of the last five seasons.
http://www.ubbulls.com/sports/wbkb/2018-19/releases/20190424o7ihwm
