McCallie to lead Duke women’s basketball through 2020-21

Cheryl Treworgy, TSN via PrettySporty.com
Sara D. Davis, The ACC.com

DURHAM, N.C. ­­- Duke Blue Devils women’s basketball head coach Joanne P. McCallie’s contract was extended through the 2020-21 season as announced on Monday.

Following the 2015-2016 season, McCallie’s leadership of the program was called into question and evaluated following the departure of marquee players Azura Stevens and Angela Salvadores following a season during which the Blue Devils failed to make the NCAA postseason for the first time since 1994.

A year later, the coach had the Blue Devils back on track.

In 2016-2017, McCallie led Duke to a 28-6 overall record and a 13-3 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play, finishing tied for second in the league, and ended the postseason with a 74-65 second-round loss to Oregon in the NCAA Tournament.

“We are ecstatic that Joanne will remain as the leader of Duke women’s basketball through the 2020-21 season, at a minimum!” vice president and director of athletics Kevin White said.

“Without question, Joanne is an elite women’s basketball coach whose student-athletes have excelled on the court, in the classroom and in the Durham community. This extension was earned with a track record that includes winning nearly 80 percent of her games as a Blue Devil head coach, while maintaining the academic success exemplified by Duke student-athletes across the board. To be sure, we are thrilled to secure Coach McCallie’s leadership for the foreseeable future.”

In 10 seasons at Duke, McCallie has guided the Blue Devils to a 273-71 (.794) overall record, nine NCAA Tournament appearances, and four NCAA Elite Eight finishes.

She owns a 121-33 (.786) record in ACC play along with three ACC Tournament crowns (2010, 2011, 2013).

McCallie has earned ACC Coach of the Year honors three times, and became the first NCAA Division I head coach to win a league championship and be named league coach of the year in four different conferences – ACC, Big Ten, America East, and North Atlantic.

McCallie possesses three 30-win seasons since the 2009-10 season and is 11 wins away from reaching 600 career victories to add to her current 79.4 winning percentage at Duke – a mark that puts her third in the ACC record book, while her 78.6 winning percentage in ACC contests ranks third in conference history.

For the upcoming 2017-2018 season, the Blue Devils return four starters, including All-America Lexie Brown and First Team All-ACC selection Rebecca Greenwell.

Sophomore Leaonna Odom and junior Kyra Lambert, who combined to start 50 contests last season, return while other key letter winners including Haley Gorecki, Faith Suggs, sophomore Emily Schubert, redshirt junior Sofia Roma, and senior Erin Mathias join them.

McCallie and her staff have been busy in their recruiting efforts and will add fifth-year transfer Bego Faz Davalos along with one of the top recruiting classes nationally that includes Mikayla Boykin, Jade Williams, Jayda Adams, and Madison Treece.

“We have a great love for the Durham community and for the amazing women who represent DWB,” McCallie said.

“It is an honor to coach and support them with our terrific staff and fans. We are all very excited for the challenges and opportunities awaiting us for this special season ahead.”