Northwestern State names Jones College’s Missy Bilderback as its new women’s basketball coach

who will care about the kids and wants them to be their best.

 

“There was such a great feeling around NSU. It’s very family oriented, and it is a great community that I think will really get behind and support women’s basketball. They have been successful in the past. Look at the Stoehrs and their recent success, and the success under coach (James) Smith and coach Pat (Pierson). It’s possible to be successful there, and I am very appreciative of the administration for giving me this opportunity.”

 

In her five seasons at Jones College, Bilderback coached 20 Division I signees, including four who inked scholarships with Power 5 conference schools. She coached former Lady Demon Kira Bonner, who led Northwestern State in scoring (13.8 points per game) and 3-pointers (49) in the 2019-20 season.

 

Bilderback took the Lady Bobcats to the Elite Eight in 2017 and produced consecutive Sweet 16 appearances in the 2018 and 2019 national tournaments. A three-time District O Coach of the Year, BIldberback coached five NJCAA All-Americans, 11 all-region selections and 20 all-conference performers while the Lady Bobcats earned national rankings in four of her five seasons.

 

“She is, overall, a caring person who carries that over as a coach,” Bonner said. “She does a great job of teaching the game and breaking down. She is fair with her team, regardless of whether they are a freshman or an upperclassman.”

 

Said Bilderback: “Both coach (Brooke) Stoehr and Kira were important for me going through the process. I trust both of them a lot. Kira felt like this was a situation in which, with my style and what we did at Jones, we could be very successful in the Southland Conference. She gave me a lot of information about the current roster and her experience and the community. I took that into consideration, knowing what type of fit it would be.”

 

For all the success Bilderback’s Jones College programs had on the court, her players were equally proficient in the classroom. From 2015-18, Bilderback’s program graduated 100 percent of its student-athletes. In each of her first four seasons, her teams had at least a 3.12 GPA.

 

References spoke as much about Bilderback’s relationship-building skills as her on-court success.

 

“Missy, from day one, will embrace being the head coach at Northwestern State,” said Louisiana Tech co-head coach Brooke Stoehr, who led the Lady Demons to two NCAA Tournaments and one Women’s Basketball Invitational berth in four seasons at NSU from 2012-16 and first became acquainted with Bilderback when the latter coached at Presbyterian Christian School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

 

“She will immerse herself in the Natchitoches and campus communities. She has the ability to relate to people and, more importantly, relate to her players and get the most out of them. When you watch her teams play, they have consistently shown they play hard for her. They play an entertaining, fun style of basketball based off maximum effort and dedication to the team.”

 

A 2001 graduate of Southern Miss, Bilderback spent 15 years as the head coach at Presbyterian Christian School, compiling a 452-115 mark and six Mississippi Association of Independent Schools state championships, including four consecutive from 2004-07. She helmed PCS to a pair of overall state titles in 2010 and 2014 and was a six-time MAIS All-Star Coach. While at PCS, she picked up Hattiesburg American Coach of the Year honors five times (2002, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2014).

 

“The kids will love Missy, and they will play hard for her,” said former Southern Miss head coach Kay James. “She is well-respected in Mississippi and nationally. You’ll have a jewel if you hire her.”

 

What Others Are Saying About Missy Bilderback

“She’s passionate. She has no complacency in how she does her job. She can rule with an iron fist if needed, but she invests 110 percent into her players to the point that she, ‘loves them into doing right.’”

Joel Cain, Jones College Director of Athletics

 

“I’ve been to her practices and to her games and respect how she manages both. I love her demeanor and how she treats her kids. She has a great feel for people. She’s a worker. She’s not afraid to do the laundry. The community is going to love her and her family.”

Kristy Curry, Alabama head women’s basketball coach

 

“We (the players who met with Bilderback during her on-campus interview) really, really, really like her. She is so genuine and was not trying to say what she thought we wanted to hear. We like the fact that her biggest goal is to develop and have a relationship with us, and that will be an important part of winning.”

Lacee Savage, rising NSU senior

 

“Coach Bilderback is one of the most amazing coaches I have had the opportunity to play for. If Jones would have been a four-year (school), I would have been there to let her coach me all four years. She has a kind heart and gets the best out of her players. Having her as my coach for two years was the best experience playing that I have had.”

Alexis Tolefree, Arkansas guard

 

“Missy can be intense if needed but also has a good level of composure. She really cares about her kids. She is an excellent recruiter and has a quiet level of confidence.”

Brooks Donald Williams, UL Monroe head coach