Southern Miss Athletics has announced the passing of former longtime women’s basketball head coach Joye Lee-McNelis.
Lee-McNelis was diagnosed with lung cancer for the third time prior to the 2023-24 season. She was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, which caused her to miss several games over the past two seasons. She announced her retirement earlier this year.
Following the announcement of her death, members of the Southern Miss community shared tributes on social media.
“We’ll forever cherish the life of Coach McNelis and all she gave to Southern Miss and her Lady Eagles,” the USM women’s basketball team posted on its official X account.
USM president, Dr. Joe Paul expressed a tribute on Facebook.
“Joye Lee-McNelis, my friend of more than four decades, led a life of leadership that personified Southern Miss GRIT,” Paul said. “The ripples of her work in molding young women into incredible citizens will carry forward forever. She is Southern Miss legend. Rest well my Hancock County sister. Prayers to her family and former players for a peace that passes understanding.”
Lee-McNelis served as head coach of the Lady Eagles for 21 seasons, returning to her alma mater in 2004 after 13 seasons as head coach at the University of Memphis. She began her coaching career as an assistant at Texas State (then Southwest Texas State) in 1984, before joining the Southern Miss coaching staff in 1986.
She was inducted into the Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame in 1997 and into the Southern Miss Legends Club in January 2025. In 2024, she was named the recipient of the Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award, and in 2025, she was recognized as one of USA Today’s Women of the Year.
As a player, Lee-McNelis joined Southern Miss in 1979 and scored 1,512 career points, ranking ninth all-time in program history.
During her tenure at Memphis, Lee-McNelis led the program to 229 wins and four NCAA Tournament appearances. After taking over at Southern Miss, she guided the Lady Eagles to multiple postseason appearances, including five WNIT berths and a Super 16 finish in 2024. She was named Conference USA Coach of the Year after a 27-7 season in 2013-14.
In total, she coached more than 550 career wins and mentored 45 all-conference players.
Southern Miss Director of Athletics Jeremy McClain also shared his condolences.
“Joye was an inspiration to us all,” he said. “Her determination, her resolve, and her love for life were reflected in the way she went about her day. She was strong in her faith and cared deeply about those close to her. Her impact on women’s basketball, her players, and her coaches is immeasurable, and her legacy will live on forever at Southern Miss.”
Current USM women’s basketball head coach Missy Bilderback shared a message as well.
“Rest in peace, Coach,” she wrote on X. “The incredible impact Coach Joye Lee had and the legacy she left will be remembered forever. Lifting up the McNelis family, her former players/coaches, and all the many, many people she inspired through the years.”
Lee-McNelis is survived by her husband, Dennis; daughter, Whitney; and son, Connor.
