The Tribune

AFTER much speculation on social media following their exit from the NCAA Tournament, Yolett McPhee-McCuin reassured the Ole Miss fanbase of her commitment to the programme and her intention to return.

Despite a report from Mike Robinson of The Ball Out on Wednesday that McPhee-McCuin was in line to be the next head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs, the fourth year Ole Miss head coach delivered a statement to the contrary last night.

“I truly believe in what we’ve built here at Ole Miss. Keith [Ole Miss Athletic Director - Keith Carter] and Jen [Ole Miss Associate Athletics Director - Jen Saxon] are committed to our programme. Our visions are aligned and to me that’s important,” she said.

“If you look at my track record we have been able to show consistent success

over a period of time. The Sip is the move I’d like to continue to stabilise our programme! So renew your season tickets, sit tight and let my staff and I continue to work.”

The 2021-22 season came to a disappointing end for Ole Miss in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Ole Miss, the no.7 seed in the Wichita Region, suffered a 75-61 upset loss to the no.10 seed South Dakota Coyotes.

“Just how I said ‘It’s NCAA Tournament or bust,’ I can boldly say that we’ll be back,” McPhee- McCuin said following the loss. “For us to be here right now, it gives me great joy and also gives me assurance to know that the programme is headed in the right direction. I’m not going to let that get lost in the fact that we didn’t win a game today. We’ll be back and we’ll continue to grow.”

Ole Miss concluded the season 23-9 - 10-8 in the SEC - to earn an at-large bid and the no.7 seed in the Witchita Region. It was their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 15 years.

“As CEOs getting into this portal, you have to be careful and we’re going to be careful on who we bring in,” McPhee-McCuin said. “We can’t bring in a bunch of one-years. We have to have a healthy mix. So that’s what we’re going to be looking to do, just have a healthy balance and mix of players that can help us do this so we don’t have to tear up the sheet and start all over again every year.”

McPhee-McCuin previously led the Jacksonville Dolphins programme to the NCAA Tournament in 2016. She led the programme to its first ASUN Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth.

Following her tenure in Jacksonville, she joined the Rebels in 2018 with expectations to rebuild a programme that struggled in recent years and was in the cellar of the SEC. In her first year at the helm the team finished 9-22, 3-13 in conference play, and the season concluded with a first round loss in the SEC Tournament.

In year two, The Rebels finished the season at 7-23 and suffered another opening round loss in the tournament. In year three, the Rebels finished the season 15-12, for their first winning season since 2016-17. After an 11-11 regular season, 4-10 in the SEC, they advanced to the first SEC Quarterfinal since 2004. Their résumé included three wins against ranked teams and four Top-50 NET wins. They eventually fell to Rice in the WNIT title game.

In 2021-22, McPhee-McCuin led Ole Miss its first top 25 ranking since 2007. The season was highlighted by a 13-game win streak, the third longest win streak in programme history.

It also included wins over three ranked opponents. In conference postseason play, Ole Miss earned its first SEC Tournament Semifinal game appearance in 29 years.