University of North Carolina - Wilmington Women's Basketball

Nicole Woods, an experienced collegiate coach and tireless recruiter, was named the 12th head coach in UNCW women’s basketball history by Director of Athletics Michael Oblinger on April 13, 2023. Woods, a native of Gastonia, N.C., begins her third season at the helm for UNCW in 2025-26. Most recently, Woods spent 10 years on the coaching staff at Charlotte. Woods served as an associate coach with the 49ers under Cara Consuegra (currently the head coach at Marquette). In her second season at UNCW, Woods revitalized the program during the 2024-25 campaign. The Seahawks won 14 games, improving their win total from 2023-24 by nine to reach the second round of the Coastal Athletic Association tournament. Woods also navigated the Seahawks to a perfect 4-0 record in overtime games and is 5-0 all-time in overtime as a head coach.  UNCW won eight conference games during the 2024-25 season, matching the previous total from the past four seasons combined, including a 65-57 win against Stony Brook, the defending regular season champions, and a 67-61 victory in the CAA opener against Campbell, the runner-up at the 2025 CAA Tournament. Woods led the program's resurgence, showcasing her strong ability to recruit and build relationships with student-athletes. She recruited the CAA's 2023-24 Sixth Player of the Year, Jania Hall, who reached the 1,000-point milestone as a graduate student on Feb. 23, 2025 at Towson, and four-star recruit Ali Zelaya (North Carolina), among others. Woods also recruited Tia Dobson, who led all freshmen in the CAA with 65 assists. In 2024-25, Woods guided Zelaya to three major CAA accolades. Zelaya was the second player in the program's 40-year history in the conference to be named the CAA Defensive Player of the Year, and the first in 22 years. Zelaya was also the program's first CAA first-team selection in a decade and the 10th overall in team history. She was only the eighth player in team history selected to the league's all-defensive team. Zelaya became the second player in program history to be named USBWA Ann Meyers Drysdale National Player of the Week following two dominant double-double performances in wins against Hofstra on Jan. 31 and Stony Brook on Feb. 2. Under Woods' leadership, Zelaya broke the program's 25-year single-season blocks record in 2024-25 with 81 rejections, finishing eighth all-time in program history in 32 games as a Seahawk.  Zelaya was seventh in the nation in blocks (81), ninth in blocks per game (2.53), 13th in defensive rebounds per game (7.6), 37th in rebounds (295), 45th in double-doubles (11) and 51st in rebounds (9.2), leading the CAA in each category at the end of UNCW's season. Evan Miller rewrote the program record book, finishing the last two seasons of her career with Woods. Miller broke the 14-year program record for career games played on Feb. 7 at Delaware and finished her career with 136 games played. Miller wrapped up her career fourth in career minutes played (3,378), fifth in career 3-point attempts (413), seventh all-time in career 3-pointers made (124) and 10th in field goal attempts (993). Miller also became the first Seahawk under Woods to sign a professional contract, inking a deal with A.D. Sanjoanense in Sao Joao, Portugal in June 2025.  With Woods leading the way, the Seahawks made significant leaps in multiple statistical categories. Woods' efforts in uniting the Wilmington community paid off as UNCW jumped from 11th to fourth in home attendance, with an extra 2,000+ fans entering Trask Coliseum during the 2024-25 season, including the highest attended conference game for the program in the last five seasons. The program also finished the spring semester with a 3.825 GPA, the highest for any team on campus. The Seahawks' academic success during the 2024-25 academic year paid off as the team earned the 2024-25 CAA Team Academic Excellence Award with a 3.764 GPA.  UNCW'S IMPROVEMENT WITH COACH WOODS CAA STATISTICS 2024-25 2023-24 Record 14-18 (8-10 CAA)  5-25 (3-15 CAA) Free Throw % 1st (72.8%) 4th (73.3%) 3-Point % 2nd (30.4%) 14th (22.2%) Def. Rebounds Per Game 2nd (26.4) 11th (23.4) Blocks 2nd (110) 8th (85) Scoring Offense  3rd (64.2 PPG) 12th (54.5 PPG) 3-Pointers 4th (181) 14th (103) Rebounds 5th (1,160) 11th (1,041) Field Goal % 6th (40.2%) 14th (33.5%) Assists Per Game 6th (13.1) 13th (9.5) Rankings as of March 13, 2025 (Conclusion of UNCW's season) WOODS ARRIVES IN WILMINGTON  "I want to thank Chancellor Volety, Mike Oblinger, and Tiffany Tucker for believing in me," Woods said. "The three of us will do remarkable things together. It will be a pleasure to work for such an amazing administration.  I am ready to lead this program to progressing daily, while positively impacting the lives of these young ladies." "I don’t take for granted the opportunity at hand. Helping people is my calling in life. I look forward to cultivating relationships and pouring into those around me. Words cannot express my gratitude and I am ready to hit the ground running!”  AT CHARLOTTE Woods was the recruiting coordinator for the 49ers over the last six seasons and helped Charlotte pile up four WNIT berths (2014, 2016, 2019, 2021) and one NCAA Tournament appearance. The 49ers captured the 2022 Conference USA Championship.  Charlotte racked up five winning seasons and four 20-win campaigns in the Queen City with Woods on the staff. The 49ers recorded a C-USA winning percentage of .500 or better in nine straight seasons from 2013-22, capped by a 15-3 conference mark in the 2022 championship season.  Woods primarily worked with Charlotte's backcourt, helping numerous players run the team’s high-octane offense while contributing on the defensive end. She mentored several All-Conference performers, including Syracuse transfer Jade Phillips, a 2020 C-USA first-team and C-USA All-Defensive selection who averaged 14.1 points and 8.7 rebounds per game over two seasons.  In addition to Phillips, Woods headed up the recruiting efforts for three-time All-Conference selections Jada McMillan and Octavia Jett-Wilson. McMillan started 117 games and collected 120 steals. Jett-Wilson was the 2022 C-USA Player of the Year and is Charlotte’s all-time leader in games played (143), games started (123) and minutes played (4,157). She ranks second in free throws made (490) and third on the school’s all-time scoring list (1,812).  Woods’ recruiting acumen has extended from the state of North Carolina to the national level. The 49ers featured their first all-North Carolina freshman class in 2018-19, and Charlotte has added several Power Five transfers in recent years. AT STETSON Woods worked as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Stetson (2011-13) after beginning her coaching career as a graduate assistant at SIU Carbondale (2009-11). At Stetson, Woods played a key role when the Hatters and coach Lynn Bria cranked out a school record 23 victories and the program’s first WNIT berth in 2012. Woods and the Hatters captured the 2013 Atlantic Sun Championship, earning an first-round matchup vs. UCLA, the No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Woods arrived at Stetson following two years as a graduate assistant coach at SIU Carbondale, where she worked under Missy Tiber, who coached Woods during her playing days at Belmont Abbey. Woods was responsible for team travel, video exchange, gameday operations, and oversaw the team managers. Woods assisted with film breakdown, scouting, and community relations, graduating in 2011 with a master’s degree in public administration.  Woods recruited Stetson’s all-time leading scorer, Brianti Saunders, who scored 1,975 points for the Hatters. Saunders joined Victoria McGowan, Jama Sharp, and Sasha Sims as former players for Woods who made the ASUN Conference’s All-Decade Team. McGowan was inducted into the ASUN Hall of Fame in 2025. Saunders ranks fourth all-time in ASUN history for career points and earned three All-Conference and nine Player of Week selections. McGowan was named 2012 ASUN Player of the Year and earned Tournament MVP honors in 2011 after helping Stetson capture the ASUN title. McGowan is being inducted into the ASUN Hall of Fame in 2025. Sharp racked up two first-team All-ASUN selections during her career in DeLand. Sims earned postseason honors each year in Deland, being named to the all-conference team from 2012-14 and to the ASUN All-Freshman Team in 2011.  COLLEGIATE/PROFESSIONAL PLAYING CAREER Woods played four seasons at Belmont Abbey (2002-06), where she blossomed into an NCAA Division II Bulletin Second-Team All-American, averaging 24.1 ppg, less than .01 ppg behind the national leader. Woods was also selected Carolina-Virginia Athletic Conference (now Conference Carolinas) Player of the Year after averaging 7.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists during her senior campaign.  Woods earned degrees in Accounting and Business Management at Belmont-Abbey and graduated in 2006 as the school’s fourth all-time leading scorer with 1,641 points. Her 676 points scored in 2005-06 remain a school record for a single season. Woods was inducted into the Gaston Sports Hall of Fame in 2022 and played professionally in England for the Nottingham Wildcats in 2007-08, leading the team in assists and ranking second in scoring.  The Nicole Woods File  Full Name: Alicia Nicole Woods  Hometown: Gastonia, N.C.  Education: B.A., Accounting, Belmont Abbey, 2006; B.A., Business, Belmont  Abbey, 2006; M.A., Public Administration, SIU Carbondale, 2011  The Woods Coaching Timeline  Head Coach | UNCW (2 seasons) | 2023-Present  Associate Coach/Recruiting Coordinator | Charlotte (1 season) | 2022-23  Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator | Charlotte (5 seasons) | 2017-22  Assistant Coach | Charlotte (4 seasons) | 2013-17  Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator | Stetson (2 seasons) | 2011-13  Graduate Assistant | SIU Carbondale (2 seasons) | 2009-11 Woods Year-by-Year History Season School Role Record Conf. Record Postseason 2009-10 SIU Carbondale Grad. Assistant (Tiber)   2010-11 SIU Carbondale Grad. Assistant (Tiber)   2011-12 Stetson Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator (Bria) 23-11 12-6 (A-SUN) WNIT First Round 2012-13 Stetson Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator (Bria) 24-9 14-4 (A-SUN) A-SUN Champions NCAA First Round 2013-14 Charlotte Assistant Coach (Consuegra) 15-16 9-7 (A-SUN) WNIT First Round 2014-15 Charlotte Assistant Coach (Consuegra) 15-17 10-8 (A-SUN)   2015-16 Charlotte Assistant Coach (Consuegra) 20-11 12-6 (C-USA) WNIT First Round 2016-17 Charlotte Assistant Coach (Consuegra) 21-10 12-6 (C-USA)   2017-18 Charlotte Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator (Consuegra) 14-16 10-6 (C-USA)   2018-19 Charlotte Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator (Consuegra) 18-13 9-7 (C-USA) WNIT First Round 2019-20 Charlotte Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator (Consuegra) 21-9 11-7 (C-USA)   2020-21 Charlotte Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator (Consuegra) 10-12 9-5 (C-USA)   2021-22 Charlotte Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator (Consuegra) 22-10 15-3 (C-USA) C-USA Regular Season and Tournament Champions. NCAA First Round 2022-23 Charlotte Associate Coach/Recruiting Coordinator (Consuegra) 12-19 7-13 (C-USA)   2023-24 UNCW Head Coach 5-25 3-15 (CAA) 2024-25 UNCW Head Coach 14-18 8-10 (CAA)   What They're Saying About Coach Woods "We're very excited to welcome Nicole to the Seahawk family. She has an excellent basketball pedigree and will bring new excitement to our program. Our student-athletes and staff will enjoy getting to know Nicole as the program prospers. It's a great day for our women's basketball program and Seahawk Nation." -Michael Oblinger, UNCW Director of Athletics "Nicole is the perfect choice to lead the UNCW Women’s Basketball program. She has been an integral part of building and sustaining success during her 10 years working for Charlotte Women’s Basketball. Her impact starts with people and her ability to connect, engage and motivate others to become the best version of themselves. But she is also a tremendous basketball mind, hard worker and great leader to all around her. Nicole will lead with integrity and heart and will pour into the lives of her players. I am confident that the team, athletic department and university will all benefit from her joining the community. I cannot wait to watch Nicole transform the program and will always be cheering from afar." -Cara Consuegra, Marquette Women's Basketball Head Coach "Nicole Woods is one of the best and brightest coaches in the business. She has established an incredible reputation for being one of the best recruiters in the country. Her authenticity has enabled her to create deep relationships with people on all levels. It’s no surprise to me that Nicole has become an amazing leader and ready to lead her own program." -Lynn Bria, Stetson Women's Basketball Head Coach "Head coaching success comes from those that are tremendous leaders and possess the strategy and recruiting knowledge necessary to outperform an opponent. Nicole Woods has for more than a decade, as an assistant coach, at three highly successful programs developed the knowledge necessary for success. She has demonstrated a highly refined ability to recruit students that are talented athletically, but more importantly, a match for the institution. Daily, Nicole demonstrates her commitment to leadership, living her values, every moment, every day, all the time. She treats her student-athletes in the same way she demands to be treated with dignity, respect, energy, and enthusiasm. She is ready to be a head coach!" -Jeff Altier, Stetson Director of Athletics "Nicole is a level-headed leader, who brings consistency wherever she goes-never gets too high or too low. In the years of working along side Nicole, she’s been the most professional individual I’ve ever worked with. Nicole is an individual who takes pride in bringing other individuals along. She genuinely LOVES to see others succeed and her ability to celebrate other people is contagious." -Tanisha Wright, Atlanta Dream Head Coach, WNBA "Nicole is a light among coaches in the basketball community. When she walks into a high school or travel team gym her presence is known. She has built strong relationships and is well-respected among her colleagues. A continuous learner, Nicole is a constant at our A Step Up professional development symposiums. Her ability to develop talent is due both to her attention to detail and energy on the basketball court. Her faith leads her and her light helps to guide others looking to turn their potential into something more. I am confident that she can help take any program to the next level." -Felicia Hall Allen, Founder of Felicia Hall Allen & Associates Coach Woods in the News Confidence rises as UNCW women's basketball searches for first winning season in 6 years National Girls and Women’s in Sports Day clinic  Introductory Press Conference (Seahawk Digitial Network) Three things to know about new UNCW women's basketball coach Nicole Woods (Star-News) Biggest Takeaways from UNCW WBB Head Coach Nicole Woods' Press Conference (WWAY-3) Press Conference Photo Gallery (Jeff Janowski/Office of University Relations) Why a sudden change of heart brought Nicole Woods to UNCW (Star-News)  

Cherie Lea, a UNCW Athletics Hall of Famer who spearheaded a resurgence in UNCW women's basketball in the early 2000s, will begin her third season at her alma mater in 2025-26 as the associate head coach under head coach Nicole Woods. "Cherie is a person that you want your daughter to aspire to be like," said Woods. "She is a person driven by her personal core values. She was the CAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year, so she embodies what it means to be a student-athlete. Culture is what drives our program and I felt there was nobody better that personified those pillars of our program than Cherie." Lea became Woods' top lieutenant in 2023-24 after serving in the same capacity at Duquesne for the 2022-23 season. The 2004 UNCW graduate spent eight seasons on the Duquesne staff under Dan Burt, a former Seahawk assistant from 2001-04.  "It's great to be home and it's a surreal moment. UNCW has meant so much to me. When the opportunity was presented to me by Coach Woods, I couldn't turn it down," said Lea, who donned the No. 44 jersey during her Seahawk playing career. "It's important to me to give back to this University and the women's basketball program. Therefore I am going to be the best coach I can be for Coach Woods, our staff, and players." As UNCW's defensive coordinator, Lea was instrumental in developing graduate transfer forward Ali Zelaya during the 2024-25 season. Zelaya became the Seahawks' first All-CAA First-Team selection in 10 seasons and the 10th player in program history to achieve the feat. Zelaya joined Lea's former teammate, Rachael Friesen-Norwood, as the second player in program history to be named CAA Defensive Player of the Year. Zelaya became the first UNCW forward to win the award and was the eighth player in program history to be named to the All-Defensive Team. Zelaya also broke the program's 25-year single-season blocks record with 81 blocks, the seventh-most in the NCAA. The 6'4 forward also ranked eighth in the nation with 2.53 blocks per game. She also coached her sixth career 1,000-point scorer as Jania Hall reached the feat in a 72-63 win for the Seahawks at Towson on Feb. 23, 2025. In her first season at UNCW in 2023-24, Lea played a key role in helping Taylor Henderson land a spot on the CAA All-Rookie Team. Lea began her coaching career as the director of basketball operations for Duquesne in 2013. She was named an assistant coach in 2016 and was elevated to associate head coach for the 2022-23 season. With Lea in Pittsburgh, the Dukes compiled a 137-102 record, including 69 Atlantic-10 Conference wins. Duquesne secured three WNIT berths (2014, 2017, 2018) with Lea on the staff and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the Women's Basketball National Invitational Tournament in 2018. The 2019-20 Dukes were also a projected WNIT squad with a 20-11 showing before the cancellation of the postseason tournament. She helped develop standout guard Megan McConnell for three seasons. McConnell is the Dukes' all-time leader in assists and steals and ranks second in scoring. McConnell was recently named the 2025 Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year.  At Duquesne, Lea also guided Kadri-Ann Lass to a spot on the Atlantic 10's All-Defensive Team in 2018 and 2019. During the 2017-18 campaign, Lass led the league with 97 blocks and finished ninth in the nation. She also broke the program's previous record of 76.  Lea coached five 1,000-point scorers at Duquesne, including the program's third all-time leading scorer Chassidy Omogrosso (1,703 points). Omogrosso was a two-time all-conference selection and set the team's single-season record with 92 three-pointers in the 2017-18 season. She finished her career as Duquesne's all-time leader with 279 made three-pointers. Lea coached five players at Duquesne who reached the professional ranks (Paige Cannon, Lass, Jose Ann Johnson, Precious Johnson, and Lauren Walsylson). Between stints at Duquesne, Lea was the top assistant at Wingate under former UNCW Head Coach Ann Hancock. In her two years with the Bulldogs, Lea helped the team compile a 43-19 (.693) record and a 34-10 (.772) mark in the South Atlantic Conference. Wingate was crowned SAC tournament champions and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2015-16. Before turning to coaching, Lea dominated on the hardwood. A transfer from North Carolina, Lea joined the Seahawks for the 2002-03 women's basketball season and made an immediate impact with the team. The point guard powered the Seahawks to a 37-19 record over two seasons, earning first-team All-CAA honors and team MVP recognition both years. The Blanch, North Carolina product scored 884 points (14.7 PPG), grabbed 301 rebounds (5.4 RPG), and dished out 165 assists (2.9 APG) in 56 appearances for the Seahawks. She started 55 of those contests and is the only two-time first-team All-CAA pick in UNCW women's hoops history. She was honored as a Colonial Athletic Association legend in 2005. Lea also excelled in the classroom. She was a two-time selection to the CAA's All-Academic Team and was tabbed as the CAA's Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2003-04. Following her senior year, Lea was named the recipient of the prestigious Dean Ehlers Award from the CAA. Following graduation, Lea enjoyed an outstanding professional career overseas. She played professionally in Luxembourg and Holland, where she was the two-time MVP of the Dutch League and a participant in four All-Star Games. Lea won a pair of Dutch titles during her time in The Netherlands. Lea earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in mathematics from UNCW in 2004. Lea became the sixth women's basketball member of the UNCW Athletics Hall of Fame when she was inducted on Feb. 25, 2023.

Jake Seidel enters his second season with the UNCW women's basketball program in 2025-26 after joining the Seahawks as a program assistant in November 2024.  "Jake is a jack of all trades. He's come into our program having a wealth of knowledge in the areas we need assistance," head coach Nicole Woods said. "He's a hard worker and eager to help in any way. We are grateful to have him." In his first season as the program assistant at UNCW, Seidel worked extensively with the 2025 CAA Defensive Player of the Year and first-team selection Ali Zelaya. He also helped guide Evan Miller, who became the program's all-time leader in games played and signed a professional contract with A.D. Sanjoanense in Portugal after the season. Seidel also worked with Kate Hollifield, who led the CAA shooting 43.5% from 3-point range in conference games during the 2024-25 season. He also coached Tia Dobson, who led all freshmen in the CAA during the 2024-25 campaign with 65 assists. Seidel spent the 2023-24 season with the Lady Colonials at Robert Morris University in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. At Robert Morris, Seidel was an assistant coach with his primary duties including breakdown of practice and game film, coordinating team travel and logistics, producing scouting reports, and player development. Before joining Robert Morris, Seidel was the director of basketball operations for the boys' national team at Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas. He was responsible for coordinating team travel and logistics, camp operations, game operations, marketing operations, and coordinating social media. During his tenure, he was a part of the 26-2 top-ranked team in the nation that ended the year as NIBC Champions and made two GEICO Nationals appearances. Throughout two seasons at Sunrise, Seidel was also a part of the staff that developed three McDonald's All-Americans, 14 Division I signees, a Gatorade National Player of the Year and three NBA players: Matas Buzelis (Chicago Bulls), Gradey Dick (Toronto Raptors) and Bobi Klintman (Detroit Pistons). Seidel served as a student assistant at Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas, for the men's basketball team under head coach Gregg Marshall. During his tenure, Wichita State reached third in the national rankings, made appearances in the NCAA Tournament and reached the NIT Final Four. Wichita State produced 13 professional players, including two current NBA Players, Dexter Dennis (Dallas Mavericks) and Austin Reaves (Los Angeles Lakers), plus Landry Shamet, a 2018 NBA first-round draft pick.  He began his coaching career as a student assistant at Sauk Valley Community College in Dixon, Illinois. He was responsible for assisting in practice and was the video coordinator for the men's and women's games. Seidel was a part of the men's NJCAA Region IV championship team in 2016 and the women's NJCAA Region IV championship team in 2017. Seidel has also gained professional experience with the Orlando Magic and the New York Knicks in Las Vegas, Nevada during the NBA Summer League. As a team assistant, Seidel was responsible for assisting in team drills in practice and attending to bench needs during games. Seidel remains active in the basketball community, as he has previously volunteered at USA Basketball events, Under Armour (UAA) events, and The Basketball Tournament (TBT), along with running a 3-on-3 basketball league during his time in Wichita. A native of Rock Falls, Ill., Seidel earned a bachelor's degree in Sport Management in 2019 and a master's degree in education in 2020 from Wichita State University. EXPERIENCE: UNCW     - Program Assistant (2024-present) Robert Morris University (Moon Township, Pa.)     - Assistant Coach – Director of Basketball Operations & Video Coordinator (2023-24) Sunrise Christian Academy Elite National Team (Bel Aire, Kan.)     - Director of Basketball Operations (2021-23) Wichita State University Men's Basketball (Wichita, Kan.)     - Student Assistant (2017-20) Sauk Valley Community College (Dixon, Ill.)     - Student Assistant (2015-17)