Head Coach Vanessa Blair Lewis

[Verdad]

Reality is whether or not she leaves will depend on what offers there are - which none of us, including her, have any idea about right now.

We have no idea if we'll get a home team discount if she is happy at Mason and views next year as a huge opportunity by bringing everyone back vs a P4 offer for more money.

Will it just have to be a P4 offer for more money to get her to leave, or will it take an offer from a higher tier P4 for staggering money? No idea.

 

[jessej]

Arizona had an opening after last season and IIRC, she was a candidate for this. Don't know if she turned it down or if she was their second choice and the first choice took the job.

Burke’s Arizona contract of base pay & other duties approximately $3.5 million over five years | ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com

Share Tweet New Arizona women’s basketball coach Becky Burke, who was introduced to local media Friday, will make approximately a total of $3.5 million in base pay and pay from “additional duties” with opportunities for additional income based on incentives over a five-year period, as noted in...

allsportstucson.com

Coach VBL has a base salary hire than what they offered. why would she move all the way across the country, uproot her family, where she has never lived nor played before AND take a paycut? AND the university would then have to pay the buyout!!!

 

[jessej]

Ex-NBA Referee Eric Lewis Returns to Officiating Two Years After Investigation

The veteran official will receive a second chance.

www.si.com

Patrick Andres|Dec 19, 2025

"The NBA is reinstating Lewis to its officiating pool with immediate effect, it announced Friday afternoon. Lewis will begin officiating G League games this weekend, and could potentially return as an NBA official."

As i was entering Henrico Arena on Friday am - the computers failed. So, we had to wait in line while the computers rebooted. I started talking with the guy in the window next to me, he said he was a referee and knew Eric and said that Eric had given up the MEAC job and was heading back to the NBA.

 

[psyclone]

Rutgers fires Coquese Washington after 11 straight losses

Rutgers fired women's basketball coach Coquese Washington on Monday after the Scarlet Knights ended the season with 11 straight losses and failed to win 10 games for the second time in three years.

www.espn.com

I'd bet dimes to dollars that Coach VBL gets an interview

Brutal record.
I can't believe that Rutgers has the money to land Mulkey or Staley.

Coaching carousel: Kim Mulkey, Dawn Staley listed as 'Hail Mary' candidates for surprise Big Ten job

.

www.on3.com

But also:
www.si.com/college/rutgers/football/rutgers-reportedly-lost-over-500-millions-since-they-joined-the-big-ten

Rutgers hires a Mulkey assistant:

Rutgers hires LSU's Gary Redus II as new women's hoops coach

Rutgers has hired former LSU assistant Gary Redus II as its women's basketball coach to replace Coquese Washington.

www.espn.com

 

[jessej]

Rutgers hires a Mulkey assistant:

Rutgers hires LSU's Gary Redus II as new women's hoops coach

Rutgers has hired former LSU assistant Gary Redus II as its women's basketball coach to replace Coquese Washington.

www.espn.com

wonder what the salary is?

this is the power of the coaching tree
this is how we got CKE

 

[Pablo]

https://www.gainesville.com/story/sports/college/sec/2026/03/09/florida-womens-basketball-coaching-search-eight-candidates-to-watch-kelly-rae-finley-scott-stricklin/89020066007/

"Here are some names that could replace Finley as Florida women’s basketball coach, organized by tiers.

The ultimate​

Yolett McPhee-McCuin, Ole Miss​

​

Major wins for Florida women’s basketball​

Sean O’Regan, James Madison​

Lindsay Edmonds, Rice​

Vanessa Blair-Lewis, George Mason​

Florida football fans might have had reservations about Jon Sumrall, and he’s tried to quell those concerns by informing fans he just wins.

Blair-Lewis can make the same argument. She led the Patriots to their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2025 with a loss to Florida State as a No. 11 seed.

This season, GMU tied for the Atlantic 10 regular-season title and lost by two to Rhode Island in the A10 Championship game to prevent the program’s second consecutive tournament appearance.

​

Realistic names fans can be excited about​

DeLisha Milton-Jones, Old Dominion​

Tammi Reiss, Rhode Island​

Hana Haden, Georgia Southern​

Matt Wise, Samford​

Ayla Guzzardo, McNeese State​

Megan Griffith, Columbia"​

 

[Pablo]

Is her husband still an NBA ref? If so, living close to a hub airport (e.g. Dulles) may be an important factor in any relocation decision. Might disfavor a place like State College and some (but not all) P4 colleges.

You can't have her!!

MSN

"Tanisha Wright is coming home to Happy Valley.

Four people familiar with Penn State’s search for its next women’s basketball coach confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on Thursday the Nittany Lions are hiring Wright, a former three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year at Penn State."

There is still an opening at Florida.

 

[psyclone]

MSN

"Tanisha Wright is coming home to Happy Valley.

Four people familiar with Penn State’s search for its next women’s basketball coach confirmed to USA TODAY Sports on Thursday the Nittany Lions are hiring Wright, a former three-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year at Penn State."

There is still an opening at Florida.

They can't have her either!

 

[2011WinOverVillanova]

They can't have her either!

The Florida opening scares me given the Florida ties many on the staff have.

 

[Pablo]

They can't have her either!

Florida hires Tammi Reiss as new Women's Basketball Head Coach - Women's HoopDirt

Story Courtesy John Maxwell, Florida Athletics Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin announced today that the Gators have hired Tammi Reiss as the 12th head women’s basketball coach in program history. One of the most dynamic rising leaders in college basketball, Reiss arrives in Gainesville...

whoopdirt.com

 

[psyclone]

Florida hires Tammi Reiss as new Women's Basketball Head Coach - Women's HoopDirt

Story Courtesy John Maxwell, Florida Athletics Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin announced today that the Gators have hired Tammi Reiss as the 12th head women’s basketball coach in program history. One of the most dynamic rising leaders in college basketball, Reiss arrives in Gainesville...

whoopdirt.com

Good for her! She has a similar story to VB-L in her time as a head coach at URI plus she has extra-cred for her time as a player during UVa heyday (and connection to Dawn Staley). Clearly a strong resume.

I'm still hoping that VBL will be a "lifer" at Mason. Close to family (I think I saw someone who may have been her mother at a few of our games this year) and she gets to influence the lives of young women at an important stage in their lives. Now if only the Mason fan base would turn out in larger numbers!

 

[Pablo]

I'm still hoping that VBL will be a "lifer" at Mason. Close to family (I think I saw someone who may have been her mother at a few of our games this year) and she gets to influence the lives of young women at an important stage in their lives. Now if only the Mason fan base would turn out in larger numbers!

IMO, the 3 primary factors on whether a successful coach like VBL stays are: salaries for the head coach and staff, revenue sharing, and NIL resources. Does anyone know where GMU stands with respect to revenue sharing and NIL for its women's basketball program?

 

[psyclone]

IMO, the 3 primary factors on whether a successful coach like VBL stays are: salaries for the head coach and staff, revenue sharing, and NIL resources. Does anyone know where GMU stands with respect to revenue sharing and NIL for its women's basketball program?

I have no idea.
We did lose Habib to URI this past season--my sense is that she was a contributor but certainly not a star. It's conceivable to me that she didn't get any $$.

But we did get Komara this year from URI and she was very strong defensively and an excellent rebounder, but not a scorer. But I would think we would have had to come up with some NIL to get her, but not at the level that Walton and Harris deserved.

 

[DRK331]

Article on Vanessa Blair‑Lewis who is Division I’s longest‑tenured Black female head coach, with 27 years of excellence and sustained impact on and off the court:

Women’s History Month: Division I’s Longest Tenured Black Female Head Coach

With over 27 years of experience, Vanessa Blair-Lewis continues to break barriers and build champions from Bethune-Cookman to George Mason.

www.bet.com

 

[Pablo]

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/sports/college/ucf/2026/03/30/ucf-knights-womens-basketball-coach-sytia-messer-fired/89392665007/

5 candidates to replace Sytia Messer as UCF women's basketball coach​

CHRIS BOYLE Daytona Beach News-Journal
1 hour ago

Tahnee Balerio, Georgia associate head coach/recruiting coordinator​

Vanessa Blair-Lewis, George Mason head coach​

Mar 22, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; George Mason Patriots head coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis looks on against the Florida State Seminoles during the first half … Show more
STEPHEN LEW-IMAGN IMAGES

"Blair-Lewis is a proven mid-major commodity, leading both Bethune-Cookman and George Mason to the NCAA Tournament in the last six seasons. She has won seven regular-season conference titles since entering the coaching ranks in 1998-99 with her alma mater, Mount St. Mary's.

Last year, George Mason posted its best conference record (16-2) since joining the Atlantic 10, split the league's regular-season crown and finished with a NET ranking of 60 — 85 spots ahead of UCF, for those wondering.

Blair-Lewis coached Bethune-Cookman for 12 seasons, and her husband — former NBA referee Eric Lewis — is a Daytona Beach native. Her current contract runs through the 2029-30 season."

Special Jennings, Jacksonville head coach​

Destinee Rogers, Arkansas State head coach​

Carly Thibault-DuDonis, Fairfield head coach​

Statement from UCF Athletics – Women’s Basketball Update

ucfknights.com

"Our goal remains building a program that competes at a high level while providing exceptional educational services that prepare our student-athletes for success beyond graduation. In this next chapter for women’s basketball, we are continuing to align our strategy to ensure we are investing in the ways that most directly impact success in today’s landscape.

We will conduct a national search for a head coach who embraces this vision and can lead us forward in this new era."

 

[2011WinOverVillanova]

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/sports/college/ucf/2026/03/30/ucf-knights-womens-basketball-coach-sytia-messer-fired/89392665007/

5 candidates to replace Sytia Messer as UCF women's basketball coach​

CHRIS BOYLE Daytona Beach News-Journal
1 hour ago

Tahnee Balerio, Georgia associate head coach/recruiting coordinator​

Vanessa Blair-Lewis, George Mason head coach​

Mar 22, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; George Mason Patriots head coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis looks on against the Florida State Seminoles during the first half … Show more
STEPHEN LEW-IMAGN IMAGES

"Blair-Lewis is a proven mid-major commodity, leading both Bethune-Cookman and George Mason to the NCAA Tournament in the last six seasons. She has won seven regular-season conference titles since entering the coaching ranks in 1998-99 with her alma mater, Mount St. Mary's.

Last year, George Mason posted its best conference record (16-2) since joining the Atlantic 10, split the league's regular-season crown and finished with a NET ranking of 60 — 85 spots ahead of UCF, for those wondering.

Blair-Lewis coached Bethune-Cookman for 12 seasons, and her husband — former NBA referee Eric Lewis — is a Daytona Beach native. Her current contract runs through the 2029-30 season."

Special Jennings, Jacksonville head coach​

Destinee Rogers, Arkansas State head coach​

Carly Thibault-DuDonis, Fairfield head coach​

Statement from UCF Athletics – Women’s Basketball Update

ucfknights.com

"Our goal remains building a program that competes at a high level while providing exceptional educational services that prepare our student-athletes for success beyond graduation. In this next chapter for women’s basketball, we are continuing to align our strategy to ensure we are investing in the ways that most directly impact success in today’s landscape.

We will conduct a national search for a head coach who embraces this vision and can lead us forward in this new era."

The UCF is the B12 and one of her assistants in McCabe was recently there. Another one to worry about imo.