Elevation to Assistant Head Coach to Round Out 2024-25 Lady Eagle Staff

In Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Lady Eagle assistant coach Barbara Farris has been promoted to the position of assistant head coach by head coach Joye Lee-McNelis. Farris, who brings ten years of experience in the WNBA and a wealth of coaching experience at both college and professional levels, is preparing for her second season with the Lady Eagles this upcoming winter.

McNelis expressed her appreciation for Farris, stating, “We are extremely fortunate to have Coach Farris as a Lady Eagle. Her expertise and experience in college and professional basketball are evident every day in our practices, team meetings, recruitment efforts, and game day strategies. I am eager to witness her continued growth as a Division I coach after spending over 15 years playing and coaching in the WNBA. Barbara is one of the most talented individuals I have had the pleasure of working with, and I am delighted to have her as my assistant head coach. The future of Lady Eagle Basketball is promising with Barbara Farris on our staff.”

Farris herself expressed excitement over her upcoming second year at Southern Miss, saying, “I am extremely excited to embark on my second year at Southern Miss. I am looking forward to working with these young women and embracing my role in their ongoing development and success. I am also deeply honored by the trust and confidence that Coach McNelis has in me and the role I play in the Lady Eagle program. We will continue to demonstrate the hard work and dedication it takes to elevate Southern Miss to the top!”

Originally from Metairie, Louisiana, Farris joined Southern Miss for the 2023-24 season, where she focused on developing the team’s front court. In addition to collaborating with the coaching staff to prepare for upcoming opponents and recruit future student-athletes, Farris played a vital role in leading the Lady Eagles to their first back-to-back 20-win seasons since 2015.

During the 2023-24 season, one of Farris’s players, COVID-Junior Melyia Grayson, excelled, achieving career bests in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, games played, and minutes played. Grayson’s stellar performance contributed to the Lady Eagles’ advancement to the third round of the Postseason WNIT and earned her a place on the Sun Belt Conference’s Third Team.

In total, Farris boasts 19 years of basketball coaching experience, including six seasons at the Division I level, and she previously served as an assistant coach for the WNBA’s New York Liberty for five seasons.

In addition to Farris’s promotion, Connor McNelis, the Director of Analytics and Player Development, has also undergone a title change and will serve as both assistant coach and director of analytics and player development for the 2024-25 season.

Furthermore, Jessica Barber, the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, and Brooks Donald Williams, who rejoins the Lady Eagles as the program’s associate head coach, are returning for their second season, while Mack Gardner resumes his role for the fourth season as the Lady Eagles’ Director of Operations.

2024-25 Lady Eagle Coaching Staff and Their Years in Current Roles:

• Head Coach – Joye Lee-McNelis (21st Season)
• Associate Head Coach – Brooks Donald Williams (First Season)
• Assistant Head Coach – Barbara Farris (Second Season)
• Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator – Jessica Barber (Second Season)
• Assistant Coach/Director of Analytics and Player Development – Connor McNelis (Second Season)
• Director of Operations – Mack Gardner (Fourth Season)