Melissa DeVore Named Coker's Next Head Women's Basketball Coach

HARTSVILLE, S.C. - Melissa DeVore has been named Coker University's next head women's basketball coach, announced today (Tuesday, Oct. 6) by Vice President of Athletics and Athletic Facilities Dr. Lynn Griffin.

DeVore comes to Hartsville from her alma mater, fellow South Atlantic Conference institution Limestone University, where she had been an assistant coach since 2006.

"With the assistance of Dr. Kurt Patberg, we completed a national search for our next women's basketball coach and Coach DeVore's name kept coming up," said Griffin. "The success she has had at Limestone will be instrumental in guiding our program both on and off the court. She cares about her players, not only as players, but as people, and we are excited to watch the program develop."  

In her 14 years working with Limestone, the Saints played to a 304-123 overall record, seven Conference Carolinas Regular Season Championships, five Conference Carolinas Tournament Championships, eight NCAA Tournament appearances, two NCAA Southeast Regional Championships, back-to-back trips to the Elite Eight in 2014 and 2015, and four final Top-25 national rankings.

"I am so excited to be named head women's basketball coach at Coker University," said DeVore. "I would like to thank President Dr. Natalie Harder, Vice President of Athletics and Athletic Facilities Dr. Lynn Griffin, and all the administration at Coker University for believing in me and giving me this amazing opportunity. It is an exciting time for Coker University and I cannot wait to get started on our team's journey as we grow together."

DeVore has coached six All-Americans, one Academic All-American, one Southeast Region Player of the Year and seven All-Region selections at Limestone. During her tenure, she has also coached two Southeast Region tournament MVPs, seven All-Southeast Region Tournament Team selections, one Elite 89 Award winner and one NCAA Woman of the Year finalist.

Within Conference Carolinas, she has coached one two-time Player of the Year, one two-time Defensive Player of the Year, one Freshman of the Year, 32 All-Conference selections, 16 All-Tournament Team players, four conference tournament MVPs and 21 Academic All-Conference selections.

DeVore has been heavily involved with the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, being a member of the mentor/mentee program in 2016 and 2017. She was also a member of the NCAA Women's Coaches Academy from 2014-19.

 Before starting her coaching career, DeVore was named Second Team All-Conference as a senior after leading the Saints with 15.8 points per game, 170 assists and 47 steals while also finishing second on the squad with 182 rebounds. Her assist total during the 2005-06 campaign is the highest single season mark in program history, and she ranks ninth all-time with 277 career assists in just two short seasons.
 
During her junior year, DeVore paced the team with 105 assists while recording an 82.9% (68-of-82) clip at the free throw line. She finished third in scoring that season with 230 points and pulled down 106 rebounds. Her free throw percentage as a junior ranks fourth all-time in a single season, and she currently ranks fourth in program history with a .783 career mark from the charity stripe.
 
Prior to her time at Limestone, DeVore played two seasons with Danville Area Community College and was named Conference Most Valuable Player twice after leading the league in assists and steals during her freshman and sophomore seasons. She earned First Team All-Conference honors both years.
 
She graduated from Limestone with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Physical Education in 2007.

Coker University enlisted Dr. Kurt Patberg, Senior Vice President from Athletics Staffing and Consultants to assist in the search process.