Lenoir-Rhyne University Women's Basketball

Emry Tsitouris was announced as the next head coach of the Bears women's basketball program in June of 2025. Tsitouris, the 14th coach in program history, joined LR following a transformational three-year tenure as the head coach at Mars Hill University, where she orchestrated one of the most impressive program rebuilds in the South Atlantic Conference. In her first year at the helm coach Tsitouris led the Bears to one of the best seasons in program history and the team's first ever Southeast Regional Championship game appearance. Lenoir-Rhyne finished the 2025-26 campaign with a 26-6 (20-2 SAC) record and won the fifth SAC Regular Season championship in program history. Helped along by a program-record 19-game win streak, the Bears won 20 SAC games, a new program record. The Bears ranked second on the country in both free throws made and scoring offense and were 13th in scoring margin. For her efforts coach Tsitouris was named the 2025-26 SAC Coach of the Year, the third coach in program history to earn the award. Aaliyah El was named to the All-SAC First Team and the D2CCA All-Region First Team. Abigail Brown became Lenoir-Rhyne's fourth SAC Freshman of the Year and joined El on the All-SAC First Team. Elyseia Brown was an All-SAC Third Team honoree while Ralee Bear was named to the All-Freshman Team. Tsitouris came to Hickory after leading Mars Hill to a 17-12 overall record and a 14-10 SAC mark in 2024-25—the program's best season since 2010-11. A one-win team prior to her first season at the helm, she guided the Lions to a SAC Tournament berth for the first time since 2015-16 and was ranked in the Southeast Region D2 CSC poll for the first time in over a decade. Mars Hill led the league in rebound margin (+7.4) and offensive rebounds per game (14.9), while also setting program records for home wins (13-2) and made field goals in a single game (45). Nationally, Tsitouris was named D2 National Coach of the Week by WHoopDirt/FBPlayBook and guided the team to South Atlantic Conference Team of the Week honors for a third straight season. Prior to Mars Hill, Tsitouris spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Catawba College, helping the program reach the NCAA Division II Semifinals and earn back-to-back national tournament appearances. She also served as a graduate assistant at Wingate University, contributing to an NCAA tournament run while developing multiple All-Conference players. A former collegiate standout, Tsitouris began her playing career at USC Aiken—where she was named Peach Belt Freshman of the Year—before completing her career at Belmont Abbey as a Conference Carolinas All-Conference honoree. She holds a bachelor's degree in Organizational Communication and Management and a master's in Sport Management. Emry Tsitouris Profile 2025-Present: Lenoir-Rhyne University - Head Coach 2022-2025: Mars Hill University - Head Coach 2020-2022: Catawba College - Assistant Coach 2018-2020: Wingate University - Graduate Assistant 2017-18: Belmont Abbey - Student-Athlete 2014-17: USC Aiken - Student-Athlete

Clenzo Ross joined the Lenoir-Rhyne Women's Basketball staff prior to the 2025-26 season. Ross came to LR after assisting Mars Hill for the 2024-25 season, helping lead the Lions to a 17-12 record and a spot in the SAC Tournament. While at MHU he assisted in recruiting, gameday planning, scouting, and led guard development.  From 2022-2024 Ross was an assistant at the Chris School in Arden, N.C., where he won back-to-back state championships. He led player development for players that went on to play at Virginia, NC State, George Mason, American, Longwood, and several other NCAA DI institutions.  His coaching career began at Carson-Newman where he was a graduate assistant in 2021-22. During his lone season the Eagles went 20-11 and advanced to the SAC Championship game.  A standout player during his college days, Ross led Southern Wesleyan to their first ever Conference Carolinas tournament championship and a bid in the 2020 NCAA Tournament that was cancelled due to Covid-19. He was a Conference Carolinas All-Conference First Team honoree and the MVP of the  conference tournament. Prior to Southern Wesleyan he spent time at Lander and Clinton Junior College.