Stetson University Athletics

Melissa DeVore was named the ninth head coach in Stetson women's basketball history in April 2026, bringing an established record of program building, player development and postseason success to DeLand. DeVore arrived at Stetson following six seasons as the head coach at NCAA Division II Coker University, where she compiled a 96-72 overall record and transformed the Cobras into one of the top programs in the South Atlantic Conference... Coker earned back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time in program history and posted a combined 55-13 overall record and 37-9 conference mark during DeVore's final two seasons. The Cobras produced a historic campaign in 2024-25, finishing 29-6 and capturing the program's first South Atlantic Conference regular-season championship... The 29 victories established a school record, while Coker also set a program mark with a 14-game winning streak... After earning the program's first NCAA Tournament berth, DeVore guided the Cobras past Belmont Abbey, Carson-Newman and North Georgia to capture the NCAA Southeast Regional championship and advance to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight for the first time in school history... Coker climbed into the national rankings and finished the season among the country's premier Division II programs. DeVore was named the 2025 South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year... She coached three All-SAC performers that season, including conference Player of the Year Shawnteanna Tillman, Second Team selection Mya Wasswa and Third Team honoree Kamari Thompson... All three earned NCAA Southeast Regional All-Tournament recognition... Several program records were established during the season, including single-season team victories, consecutive wins and scoring defense at 58.8 points allowed per game... Tillman set Coker's single-season scoring record with 603 points, while Thompson established the program's rebounding record with 335 boards... DeVore followed the Elite Eight appearance by leading Coker to the 2026 South Atlantic Conference Tournament championship and a second consecutive NCAA Tournament berth... The Cobras advanced to the NCAA Tournament's round of 32, completing the most successful two-year stretch in program history... Her program's rise began with steady improvement throughout her tenure... Coker won seven games during DeVore's first season and recorded six victories in 2021-22, including a 51-44 exhibition win over NCAA Division I opponent Winthrop... The Cobras increased their total to 11 wins in 2022-23 before finishing 17-11 and reaching the SAC Tournament in 2023-24... During the 2023-24 campaign, DeVore coached SAC Freshman of the Year and All-Freshman Team selection Kamari Thompson... Thompson led the conference with 11.6 rebounds per game and set Coker's single-season record with 334 rebounds, while Dasia Lambert paced the league with 2.58 steals per contest. Before taking over at Coker, DeVore spent 12 seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Limestone University... During her tenure, the Saints compiled a 304-123 record, won seven Conference Carolinas regular-season championships and five conference tournament titles, and made eight NCAA Tournament appearances... Limestone also captured two NCAA Southeast Regional championships, advanced to consecutive Elite Eight appearances in 2014 and 2015 and finished four seasons ranked in the national top 25... DeVore helped develop six All-Americans, one Academic All-American, one Southeast Region Player of the Year and seven all-region selections... Her players also earned two regional tournament MVP awards, seven NCAA Southeast Regional All-Tournament selections, one Elite 89 Award and recognition as an NCAA Woman of the Year finalist... Within Conference Carolinas, DeVore coached a two-time Player of the Year, a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, a Freshman of the Year, 32 all-conference selections, 16 all-tournament performers, four conference tournament MVPs and 21 Academic All-Conference honorees. Before beginning her coaching career, DeVore was a standout point guard at Limestone... Earned Second Team All-Conference honors as a senior after leading the Saints with 15.8 points per game, 170 assists and 47 steals while ranking second on the team with 182 rebounds... Her 170 assists during the 2005-06 season remain the highest single-season total in Limestone history... Despite playing only two seasons with the Saints, she finished her career ranked ninth in program history with 277 assists... As a junior, DeVore led Limestone with 105 assists and shot 82.9 percent from the free-throw line... Her single-season free-throw percentage ranked fourth in program history, while her career mark of 78.3 percent also placed her among the Saints' all-time leaders... Prior to transferring to Limestone, DeVore played two seasons at Danville Area Community College... Named conference Most Valuable Player and earned First Team All-Conference recognition in both seasons after leading the league in assists and steals. DeVore has been involved with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, participating in its mentor-mentee program in 2016 and 2017... Was a member of the NCAA Women Coaches Academy from 2014-19. A native of Mulberry, Ind.... Earned her bachelor's degree in physical education from Limestone in 2007... Completed a Master of Education in physical education and sport coaching from Charleston Southern University in 2021.