UNC Asheville Head Women’s Basketball Coach Tynesha Lewis has assembled her coaching staff for her first season in 2024-25.
Ron Woodard – Assistant Coach
Woodard followed Coach Lewis from Elizabeth City State, where he worked under Coach Lewis since the 2020 season. Elizabeth City State went 61-29 with three straight Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) tournament championship game appearances including one tournament championship. In three seasons at ECSU, the program posted three straight 20-win seasons including the first winning season in over a decade. In their first season, ECSU boasted the CIAA Defensive Player of the Year. Year two saw ECSU lead the CIAA in scoring defense for the second straight season, as ECSU led advanced to its first-ever conference championship and national tournament appearance. His third season on staff saw ECSU capture a north division title with one All-Conference selection, along with being the third straight season the team achieved a grade point average over 3.0.
“I’m extremely excited and very thankful to be a part of the UNC Asheville Women’s Basketball program,” said Woodard. I’m looking forward to a very exciting and productive year! #ALLinAVL!”
Prior to joining Lewis at ECSU, Woodard was St. Augustine’s University where he served as the Associate Head Coach for one season working with post players.
Prior to his time at St. Augustine’s, He was an Assistant Coach at North Carolina Central and also a physical education teacher at Washington County Public Schools.
Woodard served as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at the University of Lynchburg from 2015-17, after serving as the Interim Head Coach for Elizabeth City State women’s basketball from 2014-15 and an assistant coach on the men’s side from 2013-14.
He was the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Claflin University from 2002-13, where his teams won a pair of Regular Season Championships along with him earning EIAC Coach of the Year and SIAC Coach of the Year honors.
One of his longer stints came at North Carolina Central from 1988-01, where he served a variety of roles. He was the Assistant Athletic Director from 2000-01, after serving as the Assistant Coach for Men’s Basketball and later the Associate Head Coach. North Carolina Central won the Division II National Championship in 1989, while winning three South Atlantic Region championships, six CIAA South division championships and qualifying for NCAA Tournament play five times.
Prior to his time at North Carolina Central, Woodard worked in various capacities at Kentucky State University from 1986-1988.
Woodard is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Masonic Mason Keystone Lodge #22 and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
“Ronald Woodard joins our staff with a wealth of knowledge, exceptional relationship-building skills and extensive experience in basketball,” said Lewis. “His deep understanding of the game, combined with his proven ability to foster strong connections with players and colleagues, makes him an invaluable asset to our program. We are excited to welcome Ronald and look forward to the positive impact he will bring to our team.”
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education from Norfolk State, along with a Master of Arts in Curriculum Development and Supervision Administration from Norfolk State.
Chasity Melvin – Assistant Coach
Melvin joins Lewis’s staff from the coaching staff of the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA, where she helped the team reach the WNBA Finals in 2021.
“I feel great motivation joining Tynesha Lewis’s coaching staff,” said Melvin. “As former teammates at N.C. State, reconnecting at the collegiate level and coaching together is surreal. I’ve admired and supported her coaching journey, witnessing her excel and achieve great success. Though our coaching journeys have been different, we both share the same passion for empowering young people and of course, winning. I’m eager to learn from her and support her efforts to lead the Bulldogs back to the top of the standings.”
Prior to her time in Phoenix, she was on staff at Loyola-Maryland, where the Greyhounds led the Patriot League in steals and steals per game and were also second in turnovers forced and three-point
field goal defense in 2019-20.
Prior to her time at Loyola she was the first woman to coach in the Charlotte Hornets organization, serving as an assistant coach with the G-League affiliate Greensboro Swarm. At that time she was also a participant in the NBA’s Assistant Coaches Program.
Prior to getting her start in coaching, Melvin finished a 10-year WNBA career with over 4,000 career points and 2,000 career rebounds including an All-Star campaign in 2001. Her 890 career offensive rebounds are seventh-most in WNBA history.
“Chasity Melvin, our Director of Player Development, brings a wealth of experience and passion to the UNC Asheville Women’s Basketball team,” said Lewis. “As a former WNBA player and coach,
Chasity’s expertise and commitment to nurturing talent are unparalleled. Her role focuses on enhancing our players’ skills and fostering their growth both on and off the court, making her an invaluable asset to our program.”
Quante Lee – Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator
Lee comes to Asheville after one season as the Head Coach at Division II Lees-McRae College, where he coached one Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Month, one Conference Carolinas Defensive Player of the Week and 16 Conference Carolinas Academic All-Conference honorees.
“I’m excited to get things rolling here at UNC Asheville under the tutelage of Coach Lewis!” said Lee. “She is a proven winner and leader!”
Prior to Lees-McRae, Lee coached two-plus seasons at NCCAA Division I Carolina University, starting as an Assistant Coach in August 2020 before being elevated to head coach in January 2021. He was named the South Region Coach of the Year once while coaching one NCCAA Scholar-Athlete, four First Team All-Region selections, two Honorable Mention All-Region selections and three NCCAA All-Americans. He led Carolina to back-to-back regional appearances, including the first in program history in 2021.
Lee was previously the Associate Head Coach and Sports Information Director at Wake Technical Community College from 2018-2020, coaching two NJCAA Scholar-Athletes, three All-Region selections and one All-American. While Lee was on staff, Wake Tech won its first regular season conference championship in program history.
“Quante Lee, our Director of Recruitment, is a dynamic and dedicated member of the UNC Asheville Women’s Basketball team,” said Lewis. “He loves being in the gym and on the road, tirelessly seeking out and identifying hidden gems in the world of basketball. Quante’s keen eye for talent and his passion for the game make him an invaluable asset to our recruitment efforts.”
Lee holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from North Carolina State, as well as a Master’s of Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship from North Carolina.
Clarissa Adams – Director of Basketball Operations
Adams comes to Asheville from North Carolina Central, where she served as the Director of Basketball Operations since 2017. She was involved in day-to-day operations for the women’s basketball program.
“I am grateful and excited for this opportunity to reunite with Coach Tynesha Lewis as she embarks on her new journey as the head coach at UNC Asheville,” said Adams. “I am ready to build upon her past success and foster a program that prioritizes the holistic development of our student-athletes while adding to the championship legacy of the UNC Asheville Athletic department.”
Prior to North Carolina Central, she served 10 years as the Assistant Director of Recruiting with the women’s basketball program after transitioning from two years as the Assistant Director of On-Campus Recruiting with the Tar Heel football program.
“Clarissa Adams, our Director of Basketball Operations, is a gifted administrator and the MVP of our program,” said Lewis. “Her exceptional organizational skills, strategic acumen and unwavering dedication have already made a significant impact on our team. We are incredibly fortunate to have Clarissa leading our operations and contributing to our success.”
Adams holds a Bachelor of Arts in Exercise and Sports Science from the University of North Carolina and a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from North Carolina Central.
“Coaching is like a puzzle; it’s about finding the right pieces, putting them together and creating something beautiful,” said Lewis on her staff. “I think we’re doing that here at UNC Asheville.”
