MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2025 Regular Session To: Rules By: Senator(s) Johnson Senate Resolution 84 A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING LEGENDARY USM LADY EAGLES WOMEN'S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH JOYE LEE-MCNELIS UPON THE OCCASION HER RETIREMENT AND INDUCTION INTO THE LEGENDS CLUB IN HONOR OF HER OUTSTANDING 45-YEAR CAREER. WHEREAS, we join the students, basketball alumni and fellow coaches of legendary USM Lady Eagles Women's Basketball Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis who has announced that she will retire as the program's head coach at the end of the 2025-2025 season; and WHEREAS, the leader of the Lady Eagles for the last 21 seasons, McNelis, 62, is an institution in the game of women's basketball. She has spent the last 34 seasons as a Division I Head Coach at Memphis (1991-2004) and Southern Miss (2004-present). A 1997 inductee into the Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame, 2024 Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award winner and most recent inductee into the Southern Miss Legends Club, McNelis is a true legend in Hattiesburg and in her sport; and WHEREAS, a native of Leetown, Mississippi, McNelis first arrived in Hattiesburg 45 years ago as a college freshman from Hancock North Central High School. As a freshman, she became an integral part of the Lady Eagles program as an efficient shooter, helping the 1980-1981 squad to Southern Miss' first-ever postseason tournament appearance. A four-year letterwinner for Coach Kay James, McNelis finished her career with the second-most points in school history; and WHEREAS, after two seasons at Texas State, McNelis returned to Hattiesburg to join the Lady Eagles staff for the 1986-1987 season. As an Assistant Coach for Coach James, McNelis began a five-season career as one of the nation's most-renowned students of the game. As the program's primary recruiter, McNelis assembled some of the best classes in the country in Hattiesburg. Multiple classes were ranked in the top 10 nationally and included some of the greatest Lady Eagles in program history, including Tanya Bullock, Alexis Hall and Janice Felder the most decorated player in program history; and WHEREAS, after helping Southern Miss to three NCAA Tournaments and a 103-47 overall record in her five seasons, McNelis began her next chapter. On April 11, 1991, at just 28 years old, she accepted the head coaching position at Memphis State. Following the Tigers first and only Head Coach of the modern era and all-time wins leader Mary Lou Johns, McNelis' task of bringing the Lady Tigers back to national prominence was not easy. However, for the next 13 seasons McNelis did just that, amassing 229 wins and four berths in the NCAA Tournament; and WHEREAS, on May 14, 2004, McNelis came home to Hattiesburg and accepted the job as the Head Coach of her Southern Miss Lady Eagles. Her homecoming was nearly 20 years in the making as she took over as the fourth Head Coach in program history; and WHEREAS, taking the reins immediately, McNelis established the "Wings" Booster Club to further support the Lady Eagles program. While her turnaround was slow, the Lady Eagles made strides in each of her first three seasons. In 2007-2008, her fourth season back in Hattiesburg, saw Southern Miss win 21 games. Her next group in 2008-2009 posted Southern Miss' first back-to-back 20-win seasons since 1996. Future Lady Eagles Hall of Famer Pauline Love dominated Conference USA en route to three First Team All-C-USA selections; and WHEREAS, McNelis continued her romp through Conference USA and was named the league's 2014 Coach of the Year after a second-play finish and record-setting 27-7 campaign in 2013-2014. From 2013-2015, Southern Miss won 52 games and won 25-plus games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1990; and WHEREAS, in helping Southern Miss make the transition to the Sun Belt Conference in 2022-2023, McNelis led her Lady Eagles to the league's regular season title and a semifinal finish in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. The title was the program's first since 1994 and McNelis' first since 1998; and WHEREAS, as time marched on, McNelis continued to rack up wins and won her 500th career game in the 2021-2022 season-opener over William Carey. In 2022-2023, she won her 300th game leading Southern Miss and her 550th game the next season. She continued to break through barriers, coaching her 1,000th career game last season against Murray State in the WNIT; and WHEREAS, after leading the Lady Eagles to a Super 16 finish in the 2024 Postseason WNIT, McNelis earned the Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award from the United State Basketball Writers Association. Earlier this season on January 18, 2025, McNelis became the latest inductee into the Southern Miss Legends Club, joining her Head Coach Kay James and former All-American Janice Felder in the rafters of Reed Green Coliseum; and WHEREAS, in 34 seasons as a Division I Head Coach, McNelis has made 14 postseason appearances, won two Coach of the Year titles, had 45 players named to All-Conference lists, two players named Player of the Year, and sent 13 former players to the professional ranks. She retires as one of 61 coaches in the history of women's basketball to win over 550 games; and WHEREAS, McNelis was honored at Reed Green Coliseum at halftime of the men's basketball game against Troy; and WHEREAS, "I want to thank Joye and her family for their dedication to Southern Miss and to Lady Eagles basketball over the past 21 years. Coach McNelis has had a significant impact as a leader in our university community and throughout college basketball. Wins and losses have been just a piece of her legacy. I appreciate her attention to detail in leading her student-athletes and coaches in their daily lives and hope that she will continue to be a light around Southern Miss. I wish her well on the next chapter of her journey and thank her for the immense impact she had leading our program," said Jeremy McClain, Director of Athletics; and WHEREAS, it is with great pride and respect that we acknowledge the athletic and administrative career of a Mississippi coach who has brought honor to her university and to the State of Mississippi: NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate legendary USM Women's Basketball Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis upon the occasion her retirement and induction into the Legends Club in honor of her outstanding 45-year career, and extend to Coach Joye Lee-McNelis our best wishes for future success. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Joye Lee-McNelis, forwarded to USM President Dr. Joseph S. Paul and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2025 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Johnson
# Senate Resolution 84
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING LEGENDARY USM LADY EAGLES WOMEN'S BASKETBALL HEAD COACH JOYE LEE-MCNELIS UPON THE OCCASION HER RETIREMENT AND INDUCTION INTO THE LEGENDS CLUB IN HONOR OF HER OUTSTANDING 45-YEAR CAREER.
WHEREAS, we join the students, basketball alumni and fellow coaches of legendary USM Lady Eagles Women's Basketball Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis who has announced that she will retire as the program's head coach at the end of the 2025-2025 season; and
WHEREAS, the leader of the Lady Eagles for the last 21 seasons, McNelis, 62, is an institution in the game of women's basketball. She has spent the last 34 seasons as a Division I Head Coach at Memphis (1991-2004) and Southern Miss (2004-present). A 1997 inductee into the Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame, 2024 Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award winner and most recent inductee into the Southern Miss Legends Club, McNelis is a true legend in Hattiesburg and in her sport; and
WHEREAS, a native of Leetown, Mississippi, McNelis first arrived in Hattiesburg 45 years ago as a college freshman from Hancock North Central High School. As a freshman, she became an integral part of the Lady Eagles program as an efficient shooter, helping the 1980-1981 squad to Southern Miss' first-ever postseason tournament appearance. A four-year letterwinner for Coach Kay James, McNelis finished her career with the second-most points in school history; and
WHEREAS, after two seasons at Texas State, McNelis returned to Hattiesburg to join the Lady Eagles staff for the 1986-1987 season. As an Assistant Coach for Coach James, McNelis began a five-season career as one of the nation's most-renowned students of the game. As the program's primary recruiter, McNelis assembled some of the best classes in the country in Hattiesburg. Multiple classes were ranked in the top 10 nationally and included some of the greatest Lady Eagles in program history, including Tanya Bullock, Alexis Hall and Janice Felder the most decorated player in program history; and
WHEREAS, after helping Southern Miss to three NCAA Tournaments and a 103-47 overall record in her five seasons, McNelis began her next chapter. On April 11, 1991, at just 28 years old, she accepted the head coaching position at Memphis State. Following the Tigers first and only Head Coach of the modern era and all-time wins leader Mary Lou Johns, McNelis' task of bringing the Lady Tigers back to national prominence was not easy. However, for the next 13 seasons McNelis did just that, amassing 229 wins and four berths in the NCAA Tournament; and
WHEREAS, on May 14, 2004, McNelis came home to Hattiesburg and accepted the job as the Head Coach of her Southern Miss Lady Eagles. Her homecoming was nearly 20 years in the making as she took over as the fourth Head Coach in program history; and
WHEREAS, taking the reins immediately, McNelis established the "Wings" Booster Club to further support the Lady Eagles program. While her turnaround was slow, the Lady Eagles made strides in each of her first three seasons. In 2007-2008, her fourth season back in Hattiesburg, saw Southern Miss win 21 games. Her next group in 2008-2009 posted Southern Miss' first back-to-back 20-win seasons since 1996. Future Lady Eagles Hall of Famer Pauline Love dominated Conference USA en route to three First Team All-C-USA selections; and
WHEREAS, McNelis continued her romp through Conference USA and was named the league's 2014 Coach of the Year after a second-play finish and record-setting 27-7 campaign in 2013-2014. From 2013-2015, Southern Miss won 52 games and won 25-plus games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1990; and
WHEREAS, in helping Southern Miss make the transition to the Sun Belt Conference in 2022-2023, McNelis led her Lady Eagles to the league's regular season title and a semifinal finish in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. The title was the program's first since 1994 and McNelis' first since 1998; and
WHEREAS, as time marched on, McNelis continued to rack up wins and won her 500th career game in the 2021-2022 season-opener over William Carey. In 2022-2023, she won her 300th game leading Southern Miss and her 550th game the next season. She continued to break through barriers, coaching her 1,000th career game last season against Murray State in the WNIT; and
WHEREAS, after leading the Lady Eagles to a Super 16 finish in the 2024 Postseason WNIT, McNelis earned the Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award from the United State Basketball Writers Association. Earlier this season on January 18, 2025, McNelis became the latest inductee into the Southern Miss Legends Club, joining her Head Coach Kay James and former All-American Janice Felder in the rafters of Reed Green Coliseum; and
WHEREAS, in 34 seasons as a Division I Head Coach, McNelis has made 14 postseason appearances, won two Coach of the Year titles, had 45 players named to All-Conference lists, two players named Player of the Year, and sent 13 former players to the professional ranks. She retires as one of 61 coaches in the history of women's basketball to win over 550 games; and
WHEREAS, McNelis was honored at Reed Green Coliseum at halftime of the men's basketball game against Troy; and
WHEREAS, "I want to thank Joye and her family for their dedication to Southern Miss and to Lady Eagles basketball over the past 21 years. Coach McNelis has had a significant impact as a leader in our university community and throughout college basketball. Wins and losses have been just a piece of her legacy. I appreciate her attention to detail in leading her student-athletes and coaches in their daily lives and hope that she will continue to be a light around Southern Miss. I wish her well on the next chapter of her journey and thank her for the immense impact she had leading our program," said Jeremy McClain, Director of Athletics; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride and respect that we acknowledge the athletic and administrative career of a Mississippi coach who has brought honor to her university and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate legendary USM Women's Basketball Head Coach Joye Lee-McNelis upon the occasion her retirement and induction into the Legends Club in honor of her outstanding 45-year career, and extend to Coach Joye Lee-McNelis our best wishes for future success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Joye Lee-McNelis, forwarded to USM President Dr. Joseph S. Paul and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.