Southern Miss women’s basketball coach Joye Lee-McNelis has officially rung the bell.
Just over one month after concluding her 20th season leading the Lady Eagles, McNelis has completed her chemotherapy and radiation treatments stemming from her latest cancer diagnosis.
“She’s tough as nails and has officially rung the bell,” the Southern Miss women’s basketball team posted on X as McNelis walked out to a support group consisting of family, coaches, and players.
🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔🔔
She’s tough as nails and has officially rung the bell!
Special thanks to the @ForrestGeneral Cancer Center for all the work your staff has done.#McNelisStrong | #SMTTT pic.twitter.com/uemvw4HoeK
— Southern Miss Lady Eagle Basketball (@SouthernMissWBB) April 29, 2024
McNelis, who has battled lung cancer on and off since 2017, was notified that the adenocarcinoma had returned once more this past September. Nevertheless, she persisted. The longtime head coach did not shy away from her job but continued to use her platform to motivate her players and others battling cancer. Her team hosted a Play4Kay game in February, which raised money for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.
“I am truly blessed to have my family and many prayer warriors that have impacted my life in a great way,” McNelis said back in September. “I believe that with God’s help and His gifts of strength, I can push through and be an example for others. It is important to me to demonstrate to my players that life is going to throw us curveballs sometimes, but you’ve always got to show up and hit them.”
While juggling treatments, practices, and games, the longtime coach also got word in November that her father had passed away. Only stepping away for one game this season, McNelis led the Lady Eagles to a WNIT appearance that ended in the Super 16.
McNelis’ persistence in being an overcomer did not go unnoticed. Earlier this month, McNelis was honored as the United States Basketball Writers Association’s Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award winner.
Over her career in Hattiesburg, McNelis is 329-287 and recently led Southern Miss to back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time in nearly a decade.
