- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,150,572
- Reaction score
- 59
Stetson hired Melissa DeVore as its next women’s basketball coach, athletic director Ricky Ray announced in a press release on April 2.
DeVore spent the last six seasons coaching Coker University, a Division II program, to a 96-72 record and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2025 and 2026.
The final two years of DeVore’s tenure with the Cobras were her most fruitful, including a school-record 29-win season, an appearance in the Division II Elite Eight and a trophy for winning the South Atlantic Conference’s Coach of the Year award in 2025.
Coker went 26-7 and appeared in the Round of 32 this past season.
"Melissa is an exceptional leader and a perfect fit for our campus community," Ray said in the press release. "She built a highly successful program at Coker and brings a clear understanding of what it takes to win at Stetson. Our fans will appreciate her style of play and relentless work ethic, and I'm excited for what lies ahead for her and our student-athletes."
DeVore will replace longtime head coach Lynn Bria, who announced she’d be stepping down from her role after 18 seasons on March 16. Bria is the program’s all-time winningest coach with 318 victories.
But after nearly two decades of Bria leading the Hatters, DeVore’s hire ushers in a new era in DeLand.
"I'm incredibly grateful and excited to accept the opportunity to lead the women's basketball program at Stetson University," DeVore said in a press release. "This is a special place filled with great people. I appreciate the warm welcome from everyone I've met so far. I want to sincerely thank Dr. Ricky Ray for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I'm ready to get to work building something meaningful with this team and representing Stetson with pride."
Stetson finished the 2026 season with a 20-12 record and an appearance in the Women's NIT, where it was eliminated by FIU in the first round.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Melissa DeVore hired by Stetson women's basketball as new head coach
Continue reading...
DeVore spent the last six seasons coaching Coker University, a Division II program, to a 96-72 record and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2025 and 2026.
The final two years of DeVore’s tenure with the Cobras were her most fruitful, including a school-record 29-win season, an appearance in the Division II Elite Eight and a trophy for winning the South Atlantic Conference’s Coach of the Year award in 2025.
Coker went 26-7 and appeared in the Round of 32 this past season.
"Melissa is an exceptional leader and a perfect fit for our campus community," Ray said in the press release. "She built a highly successful program at Coker and brings a clear understanding of what it takes to win at Stetson. Our fans will appreciate her style of play and relentless work ethic, and I'm excited for what lies ahead for her and our student-athletes."
DeVore will replace longtime head coach Lynn Bria, who announced she’d be stepping down from her role after 18 seasons on March 16. Bria is the program’s all-time winningest coach with 318 victories.
But after nearly two decades of Bria leading the Hatters, DeVore’s hire ushers in a new era in DeLand.
"I'm incredibly grateful and excited to accept the opportunity to lead the women's basketball program at Stetson University," DeVore said in a press release. "This is a special place filled with great people. I appreciate the warm welcome from everyone I've met so far. I want to sincerely thank Dr. Ricky Ray for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I'm ready to get to work building something meaningful with this team and representing Stetson with pride."
Stetson finished the 2026 season with a 20-12 record and an appearance in the Women's NIT, where it was eliminated by FIU in the first round.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Melissa DeVore hired by Stetson women's basketball as new head coach
Continue reading...
