BYU first-year head coach Lee Cummard: 'I love this place'

BYU didn’t overhaul following a coaching change. It doubled down. Promoted from within, BYU alum and longtime assistant Lee Cummard takes the reins with a clear mentality – develop the core, raise the standard, and let depth fuel a more aggressive style of play.

“When I came here, the game of basketball brought me here, and I wanted to compete at a high level,” Cummard said. “Twenty years later, I still like competing at a really high level, and I’m in the business of impacting people’s lives. I love this place and feel like it’s a great opportunity to do those two things.”

The first order of business after the unexpected coaching change was retention. 

“In the beginning, it’s about putting that roster – both players and staff – [together],” he said. “Fortunately for us, people wanted to be here.” 

That’s not always a given in today’s climate. 

“Everybody got a chance to choose differently, and they chose to stay,” Cummard said. “That makes me really optimistic about the group that we have.”

One centerpiece of that optimism is star guard Delaney Gibb, a sophomore who averaged 17.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game during her freshman campaign, while shooting nearly 40% from deep. 

“Whether I’m here or not, I felt like this is the place for her…,” Cummard said. “It’d be really easy to go join some of the powerhouse teams and she decided to embrace the challenge of being at a bottom-half team in a league and wants to be the top team in the league.” 

He added that she worked really hard this summer with Team Canada and is positioned to have a really great year.

Personnel-wise, BYU blended stability with timely additions. High-scoring freshman guard Sydney Benally brings polish and poise. 

“She’s so steady, highly talented, knows how to play the game,” Cummard said. “There’s shot takers and there’s shot makers. Syd is a shot maker – a make-the-right-play type of player.” 

Freshman guard Olivia Hamlin was a late pickup with program ties. 

“We’ve known Liv and the family for quite some time. She’s always dreamt of playing at BYU…,” he said. “She’s high energy and likes to have a lot of fun. She’s been a great addition.”

As for standout guard Kailey Woolston, he clarified her timeline. 

“She’s currently on her mission,” he said. “She will be joining us when the mission ends in December.” 

While she won’t play this year, Woolston will rejoin the team to get in shape and get ready for the 2026-27 season.

Regardless, depth is the story here for BYU. With freshmen, portal pieces, and two returners from injury, Arielle Mackey-Williams and Marya Hudgins, the Cougars can finally play with the intensity they strive towards. 

“I think we have a little bit more depth, and are able to play a little bit deeper than we have in the past, which allows for a level of aggressiveness that maybe we couldn’t have done in the past.” 

The goals are ambitious but possible with the roster Cummard has put together in a loaded Big 12 conference. 

“We’re pretty much at the bottom of the mountain,” Cummard said. “As we climb this mountain, we’ve got to start ticking off some of these things. Whether it’s finishing in the top half of the Big 12, an NCAA Tournament as a Big 12 member or winning 20 games in this conference.” 

The destination matters, but the process will define them. 

“Anybody that’s been in this, the journey is where the joy is…,” he said. “Competing on the national stage is what’s expected, and we want to meet those expectations.”