Yolett McPhee-McCuin adds former Syracuse head coach Quentin Hillsman to Ole Miss staff
Coming off an early exit in the NCAA Tournament Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin shook up the Ole Miss women’s basketball coaching staff.
Earlier this week it was reported that assistant coaches Chris Ayers and Bojan Jankovic have departed the program, including their names removed from the Ole Miss athletics website. After trimming down her staff McCuin is now adding back to it.
On Wednesday she announced the hiring of longtime head coach Quentin Hillsman as her newest assistant coach. Hillsman joins Oxford native Erika Sisk and Patrick Henry on the Ole Miss staff.
Hillsman most recently spent 15 seasons as the Syracuse head coach where he became the all-time winningest coach in school history with a record of 319-169. He also guided the Orange to eight NCAA Tournament appearances.
In 2016 Syracuse reached its first Sweet 16, Elite 8, Final Four and National Championship game appearances in program history.
“I am very pleased to be able to hire a coach with the pedigree and experience of Quentin Hillsman,” McPhee-McCuin said in a statement. “He is an excellent teacher of the game and also a strong recruiter at both the national and international levels. I have known Quentin for over 20 years, and I am confident that he will be a tremendous addition to my coaching staff. We look forward to him and his family joining us at Ole Miss.”
Ole Miss is coming off its third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament but failed to reach the Sweet 16 in as many years, losing to Notre Dame in the second round last month.
Madison Scott and Kennedy Todd-Williams have already announced their intentions of returning to Ole Miss for one last season. KK Deans has the option to return but has not made her plans known, at least publicly.
Hillsman brings a strong recruiting track record to Oxford with him. He brought in 11 top-25 classes, nationally, in his final 12 seasons with the Orange.
“I am extremely grateful and humbled for the opportunity to join the women’s basketball team at Ole Miss, one of the premier programs and premier institutions in the Southeastern Conference.” Hillsman said in a statement. “I am ecstatic to work for Coach McPhee-McCuin, one the elite coaches in all of basketball. Coach Yo’s impact on the game, her relentless pursuit of winning the right way, and her proven success on and off the court has me very excited to be part of her staff, Ole Miss and the Oxford community.”
