The University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on Tuesday that John Ishee, who was an assistant coach at Lamar University under new Broncs head coach Larry Tidwell last season, is the new Broncs women’s basketball associate head coach.
This past season, Ishee helped the Cardinals to a 22-11 record (12-6 Southland) and a spot in the WBI (Women’s Basketball Invitational) Quarterfinals.
“I’m extremely honored and proud to be at the University of Texas-Pan American. I really appreciate the opportunity that Coach Tidwell is giving me to be his associate head coach. He’s a great leader, coach and person," Ishee said. " I can’t wait to help bring great success to the program and endear ourselves to the Rio Grande Valley communities and the university.”
Ishee came to Lamar with more than 20 years of collegiate coaching experience as both a head coach and an assistant. He spent five years at the head coach at Southeast Missouri, leading the Redhawks to the 2007 NCAA Tournament after going 24-8 while garnering Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year honors. He followed that up with a trip to the WNIT in 2008 as the Redhawks went 23-9. He left Southeast Missouri with a 77-74 (.510) overall record, the highest winning percentage for the program since making the jump to Division I.
Before his tenure at Southeast Missouri, Ishee was the head coach at Division II New Mexico Highlands for one season. He was also the head coach at Life University for the 2001-02 season, leading the Runnin’ Eagles to a 22-10 record and a spot in the Sweet 16 of the NAIA Division I Tournament, only to see the school discontinue its athletic program that summer.
Ishee has been an assistant at Southeast Missouri, New Mexico State, Saint Louis University, Mississippi, McNeese State, Pacific and Southern Mississippi.
Ishee started his coaching career as the head coach of the boys and girls teams at Prentiss High School in Mississippi. He compiled a 77-40 overall record over two seasons, winning two division titles.
“We’re happy to have John on our initial staff at UTPA. John brings a tremendous work ethic to the table every day,” Tidwell said. “He’ll head up the defensive end, and he does an excellent job on that. He also has a vast knowledge and a huge area of the country where he can recruit out of, whether it’s high school kids or junior college kids. I’m very pleased to have somebody who had DI head coaching experience and knows what it’s like to call a timeout on the sidelines.”
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