After 13 years, change has come to Bethune-Cookman as long-time head women’s basketball coach, Vanessa Blair-Lewis, is leaving the university to become the new head women’s basketball coach at George Mason University.
The four-time MEAC Coach of the Year amassed a record of 196-168 during her tenure with the Wildcats. The team won four regular-season MEAC titles and one MEAC tournament while Blair-Lewis was at the helm.
Her success at Bethune Cookman is widely recognized. Per the Wildcats’ athletic site, her “117-75 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) record places her atop the women’s basketball record books as the Wildcat coach with the highest conference winning percentage and best career MEAC conference record for Bethune-Cookman in its Division I era.”
“My family and I are very excited about the opportunity to come back home to where I began my playing and coaching career,” said Blair-Lewis. “I am honored to represent this diverse university and compete in the basketball-centric Atlantic 10 Conference against some of the brightest coaches in the country. I’m grateful to President Gregory Washington, Athletic Director Brad Edwards, Dr. Debi Corbatto and the search committee for believing in my abilities to lead these young women.”
Two years ago, Blair-Lewis led the Wildcats to their first tournament birth since 1984 and was the first women’s head coach in MEAC history to win Tournament Outstanding Coaching honors three consecutive years. Her new school is hoping she channels that success to the Patriots program.
“Vanessa Blair-Lewis has achieved an elite level of success throughout her impressive career,” said George Mason Athletic Director Brad Edwards. “She will bring a championship mentality to our women’s basketball program. In addition to her athletic prowess as a coach and player, Vanessa will place a strong commitment on student-athlete well-being, academics and community involvement while building an inclusive culture. We are excited to have Vanessa lead Mason women’s basketball to the next level in athletic performance in the Atlantic 10.”
A dominant force at Mount St. Mary’s, Blair-Lewis was a two-time NEC Player of the Year. She was also inducted into the Mount St. Mary’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2002, the NEC Hall of Fame in 2013, and had her jersey retired in 2019. Now the former star player seeks to use her talents and 22 years of coaching experience to elevate a program that went 3-19 this past season.
