US EditionLongtime Southern Miss Women’s Basketball Coach Joye Lee-McNelis Dies
- Joye Lee-McNelis, former Southern Miss women's basketball coach, died on June 24, 2025, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, at age 63.
- She retired after the 2024-25 season following an eight-year battle with stage 4 lung cancer first diagnosed in 2017 and returning multiple times.
- Lee-McNelis was a Leetown native who played collegiately at Southern Miss, coached Memphis for 13 seasons, then led Southern Miss for 21 seasons with 339 wins.
- Her accomplishments include four NCAA tournament appearances at Memphis, a 2023 conference championship at Southern Miss, 500 career wins by 2022, and the 2024 Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award.
- Her passing prompted widespread tributes highlighting her dedication and impact, with Southern Miss Athletics and director Jeremy McClain asking for prayers for her family.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Prayers Pouring In After Beloved Women's College Basketball Coach's Death
Celebrities Who Unfortunately Passed Away In 2024 (2:18) Joye Lee-McNelis, a beloved college basketball coach with over 550 career wins, has passed away this Tuesday. She was 63 years old. Lee-McNelis coached Memphis for 13 years before taking her talents to Southern Miss in 2004. After spending two decades at Southern Miss, she decided it'd be best for her to retire from coaching college hoops. "It is time for me to step into the next chapter o…
Joye Lee-McNelis, who won over 200 games at Memphis, loses battle with lung cancer
HATTIESBURG, Miss. — One of the most successful coaches in Memphis basketball history, Joye Lee-McNelis, passing away on Wednesday after a lengthy battle with lung cancer. McNelis spent 13 seasons on the Memphis bench, winning 229 games, four conference titles and led the tigers to four NCAA Tournament appearances as one of just two women’s […]
Longtime Southern Miss women’s basketball coach Joye Lee-McNelis dies
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT) - Southern Miss Athletics announced former women’s basketball coach Joye Lee-McNelis has died. We are saddened to announce the passing of Lady Eagle legend, Coach Joye Lee-McNelis. Southern Miss Athletics Lee-McNelis retired at the end of the 2024-25 season. She spent 34 seasons as a Division I head coach at Memphis and Southern Miss. She was a 1997 inductee into the Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame, the 2024 Pat Summ…
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