Vanessa Blair-Lewis

Head Women’s Basketball Coach
George Mason University

UNIVERSITY BIO

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Experience

2021 – Present: Head Coach, George Mason University

2008 – 2021: Head Coach, Bethune-Cookman University

1998 – 2007: Head Coach, Mount St. Mary’s University

1996 – 1998: Assistant Coach, Mount St. Mary’s University

1994 – 1996: Assistant Coach, Largo High School (MD)

1992 – 1994: Professional Player, Sweden

1988 – 1992: Player, Mount St. Mary’s University

Education

2007: Mount St. Mary’s University, Masters, Business Administration

1992: Mount St. Mary’s University, Bachelors, Sociology

Personal

Hometown: Upper Marlboro, MD

Family: Eric (Husband) & Blair, Bryce (Children)

Career Highlights

Career Division I Record
342-337 (.504) overall & 225-162 (.581) conference

20+ Win Seasons (6)
2019-20, 2018-19, 2017-18, 2016-17, 1999-00, 1998-99

Winning Seasons (10)
2022-23, 2019-20, 2018-19, 2017-18, 2016-17, 2015-16, 2009-10, 2001-02, 1999-00, 1998-99

Power Five Wins (1)
SEC

Conference Coach of the Year (5)
2017-18, 2016-17, 2015-16, 2009-10 MEAC & 1998-99 NEC

Conference Regular Season Championships (6)
2019-20, 2017-18, 2016-17, 2015-16 MEAC & 2000-01, 1998-99 NEC

Conference Tournament Championships (1)
2018-19 MEAC

NCAA Tournament Berths (1)
2018-19

WNIT Berths (4)
2019-20, 2017-18, 2016-17, 2015-16

In 2022-23, led George Mason to the program’s first winning season (16-15) in 17 seasons and .500 Atlantic 10 Conference record (8-8) in program history – rebuilt a program that only had a 139-315 (.306) overall record in the 19 seasons combined and 21-87 (.194) Atlantic 10 Conference record in the eight seasons combined prior to her arrival

Guided George Mason to wins in the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament in consecutive seasons (2022-23 & 2021-22) for the first time in program history

Three-time BOXTOROW National Coach of the Year (2019-20, 2018-19, 2016-17)

Four-time MEAC Coach of the Year (2017-18, 2016-17, 2015-16, 2009-10)

From 2008 to 2021, led Bethune-Cookman to 196-168 (.538) record and six winning seasons – rebuilt a program that only had two winning seasons in the 19 seasons prior to her arrival (161-354 (.313) record during span)

From 2015 to 2020, guided Bethune-Cookman to 107-48 (.690) overall and 68-12 (.850) MEAC record, four 21+ win seasons, four MEAC Regular Season Championships (first in program history), one MEAC Tournament Championship, and five post-season berths (one NCAA Tournament – first in program history)

In 2017-18, led Bethune-Cookman to the most single-season (24) and MEAC (15) wins in program history

Bethune Cookman’s scoring offense finished ranked 1st in the MEAC in 2019-20

Bethune-Cookman’s scoring defense finished nationally ranked 26th in 2017-18 and 8th in 2016-17, as well as 1st in the MEAC in 2016-17 and 2015-16

From 1998 to 2007, led Mount St. Mary’s to 120 overall wins and a 97-67 (.591) NEC record, two 20+ win seasons, and two NEC Regular Season Championships

As a Division I Head Coach, has recruited and coached 38 all-conference team selections, as well as three Players of the Year, six Defensive Players of the Year, and one Rookie of the Year

A two-time NEC Player of the Year, was inducted into the Mount St. Mary’s University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002, Northeast Conference Hall of Fame in 2013, and her jersey number was retired by Mount St. Mary’s in 2019

News & Media

3/23/23 – Interview: George Mason Head Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis (The Dribble Drop)

4/7/21 – Vanessa Blair-Lewis’ George Mason University Press Conference

4/6/21 – George Mason Names Vanessa Blair-Lewis Women’s Basketball Head Coach

9/20/20 – Daytona Basketball Power Couple Manage Life Inside, Outside NBA’s Orlando Bubble (The Daytona Beach News Journal)

2/6/20 – Around the Rim Podcast (ESPNW)

11/29/18 – Coaching While Black (Players’ Tribune)

8/24/17 – Women’s Basketball Coach Extends Contract at BCU

Head Coach Record