‘Coach Yo’ gets contract extension through 2025

Following a breakthrough year at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in which she led the Lady Rebels women’s basketball team to its first Southeastern Conference (SEC) quarterfinal appearance in 11 seasons, and a significant improvement over her first two years in the program, Bahamian Yolett “Coach Yo” McPhee-McCuin has been awarded a contract extension that will keep her in the cardinal red and navy blue of Ole Miss for another four years.

McPhee-McCuin signed through the 2024-2025 season and can now focus on the next step of her coaching journey and continuing to improve women’s basketball at Ole Miss. The Lady Rebels are hoping to be chosen for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament during the NCAA Selection Show, which will be held on Monday at 7 p.m. They finished 11th in their conference with an 11-11 overall win/loss record, 4-10 SEC. The Lady Rebels defeated then 13th ranked Arkansas in the second round of the SEC Championship before falling to the nationally number 14 ranked Tennessee Volunteers (16-7, 9-4 SEC) in a close game in the quarterfinals on Friday. Arkansas defeated the University of Connecticut (UConn) earlier this season which was ranked as the No. 3 team in the nation at the time.

Ole Miss Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Keith Carter announced the contract extension on Wednesday. The chancellor of the university is Dr. Glenn Boyce.

“‘Coach Yo’ has taken incredible strides in elevating Ole Miss women’s basketball to national contention,” Carter said to reporters. “From recruiting to style of play to the personal growth of student-athletes, she is committed to excelling in all facets of the program, and that dedication was clear in the momentum our team established this season. With Yo’s energy, leadership and vision, Ole Miss is on a championship path, and we’re excited to see the journey.”

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“I appreciate Chancellor Boyce and Keith for their belief in me and my vision. In addition, I’d like to thank Lynnette Johnson (Deputy Athletics Director for Sports and Administration) for her support, mentorship and commitment to our program,” McPhee-McCuin said as reported by Ole Miss women’s basketball on Wednesday. “When I took this opportunity three years ago, I had every intent to build this program from the ground up. I knew it was important to hire people that I felt could bring my vision to life. My staff and I have been working tirelessly to get to the point that we’re at currently, and while we know we’ve accomplished tons, we are fully aware that there’s still more work to do. I would be remiss if I didn’t include our players who have sacrificed and overcome major adversity this season while still making history on the court, community and classroom. My vision is clear, I am motivated and my whole staff is committed.”

The Bahamian head coach at Ole Miss helped transform the Lady Rebels into a squad to be reckoned with this year, turning around a program that produced just one conference win the season prior to her arrival in 2018 and helping to build a winning culture. The Lady Rebels won six straight out of the gate this season, went through a losing streak at the beginning of conference play amidst a mini COVID-19 outbreak, and then battled back with competitive play down the stretch. They had three ranked victories, four NET top-50 wins, narrow ranked losses and a run to the SEC quarterfinals for the first time since 2010.

McPhee-McCuin and the Rebels turned the The Pavilion at Ole Miss into a haven for competitive 

women’s basketball in Oxford, Mississippi, this season. Her players embraced the ‘No Ceilings’ theme as they turned in spirited play on the court on a regular basis, battled intensely against much higher ranked opponents and gave themselves an opportunity to win basketball games almost every time out.

The Rebels featured the SEC’s top-ranked recruiting class prior to the start of the season, and if not for a late injury to ESPN’s No. 1 rated transfer Shakira Austin in their quarterfinal match against Tennessee, they might have pulled off another upset. They lost that game, 77-72, in a close game.

McPhee-McCuin is committed to continued improvement at Ole Miss.

“This build will take

 everyone, and I am honored and humbled to be the leader of this program. There are truly ‘No Ceilings’ to what we can accomplish,” she said.

The Lady Rebels had three All-SEC honorees in 2021. Austin was their leader all season, becoming the first Lady Rebels player to earn First-Team All-SEC since the 2014-15 season. She ended the regular season as the only player in the SEC to finish in the top 15 in points (18.2), rebounds (8.8), blocks (1.6), steals (1.7), field goal percentage (52.1) and free throw shooting (73.8).

Madison Scott, the program’s first McDonald’s All-American, finished as the SEC Freshman of the Year, the first such honor for Ole Miss since 2003-2004. She along with Silentianna “Snudda” Collins were named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. The three Rebels all-conference honorees stand as the most for an Ole Miss squad since 1992.

The Lady Rebels had their best season in the McPhee-McCuin era and finished with a .500 or better overall record for the first time since the 2016-2017 season. Prior to coaching at Ole Miss, McPhee-McCuin served as the head coach of the Jacksonville Dolphins in Jacksonville, Florida, for five seasons.

The Lady Rebels remain hopeful of being selected for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007. Their best-ever finish in the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament is an Elite Eight appearance which they have accomplished five times. 

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