Southern Miss Athletic Director Jeremy McClain has announced the hiring of Missy Bilderback as the fifth women’s basketball coach in the school’s history.
Bilderback, a 2001 graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, returns to her alma mater after two years at the University of Louisiana-Monroe (ULM). In her first season with the Warhawks, Bilderback led the team to 21 wins during the 2023-2024 season, a significant improvement for ULM, which had won only 17 games total in the previous four years.
During her tenure at ULM, Bilderback achieved notable success, posting the best win total for the Warhawks in nearly two decades. She also led the team to the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) Great Eight, marking the program’s first postseason appearance since 1994.
“Missy has established herself as one of the premier coaches in our region, accomplishing championship-level success with multiple programs,” McClain said. “She is a proven leader who understands the importance of developing student-athletes both on and off the court.”
Before her time at ULM, Bilderback spent eight seasons coaching at Jones County Junior College, where she amassed an overall record of 198-33. During her tenure, she led the Bobcats to seven consecutive 20-plus-win seasons and seven straight appearances in the NJCAA Tournament.
At Jones, 30 of Bilderback’s players were named to All-MACCC teams, 20 earned All-Region honors, and 12 were named NJCAA All-Americans. Additionally, 44 of her players went on to play at four-year schools, including 40 who joined Division I programs.
“I know firsthand the pride and tradition that Coach Kay James and Coach Joye Lee-McNelis established with this program, and I am honored to return home to lead the Lady Eagles,” Bilderback said. “I look forward to building strong relationships with our student-athletes, investing in our amazing community, and bringing championships to Hattiesburg.”
Southern Miss fans are excited about Bilderback’s return. Corey Trotter, a local supporter, expressed optimism about the hire.
“This is great for Southern Miss and the entire Hattiesburg community,” Trotter said. “I’m confident Bilderback will build upon Coach McNelis’ legacy and get the Lady Eagle basketball program to compete at the highest level.”
Bilderback’s coaching career also includes 16 seasons at Hattiesburg’s Presbyterian Christian School, where she led the Bobcats to 482 wins, six Midsouth Association of Independent Schools (MAIS) state titles, and two overall MAIS crowns in 2008 and 2014. She was named Hattiesburg American’s Coach of the Year five times and participated in the MAIS All-Star Game coaching staff on three occasions.
As a player, Bilderback earned two letters as a point guard at Pearl River Community College before transferring to Southern Miss, where she graduated with a degree in sports administration.
Bilderback is married to Chip Bilderback, recently named head football coach at Columbia High School. The couple has one son, Drew.
