Lewis leaves ECSU women to take over UNC-Asheville program

Former WNBA player and Elizabeth City State head women’s basketball coach Tynesha Lewis has announced she is leaving after three seasons to accept the head coaching job at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. 

Joining ECSU in 2021, Lewis left her stamp on the program and the CIAA as she led the team to league championship game appearances in each of her three years at the helm. 

In her first season, she helped improve the team from a 12-18 record over the previous season to a 21-7 record. Lewis was named the 2021-22 CIAA Coach of the Year after leading the Lady Vikings to an 11-5 record good for second in the North Division. ECSU lost 64-59 in the tournament championship game to Fayetteville State. 

The following year, in 2023, Lewis led the team to a 20-11 overall mark, a 10-6 conference record and topped it off with ECSU’s first-ever conference tournament title, knocking off Shaw 55-54 in the championship 

 game to punch their ticket to the NCAA tournament. The Lady Vikes lost 84-60 to Glenville State in the first round 

Her final season with the team this season ended with a 20-11 overall record, 10-6 in the CIAA and another close 64-59 loss to Fayetteville State in the championship game. 

Before embarking on a career in coaching, Lewis was a standout player at North Carolina State University, being named one of three All-ACC teams. 

The star guard played in the WNBA from 2001 to 2006 with the Houston Comets, Charlotte Sting, and Minnesota Lynx, respectively. She joined Elizabeth City State following stints as an assistant coach with her alma mater NC State, Illinois State University, and North Carolina Central. 

Lewis will be taking over a UNC Asheville team that has not had a winning season since 2019-2020, having finished with an 11-20 overall record this past season.