Florida Gulf Coast will need to hire a new women’s basketball coach after the resignation of Chelsea Lyles on Monday. It immediately becomes one of the best (if not the best) mid-major job in the country.
So why would someone leave after just one year?
Lyles, 37, played college basketball at FGCU from 2008-2010 as a member of the inaugural team. She transferred up from Western Nebraska Community College to play for head coach Karl Smesko and never left. After a one-year stint as a student assistant, Lyles officially joined the staff as an assistant coach in 2011 and served in that role until being named the recruiting coordinator in the summer of 2014.
The rest is history! The Eagles made the NCAA Tournament in 11 of the last 14 years as ASUN champions. They have not won less than 26 games since 2010. They won at least 30 games in four of the last five seasons.
This most recent season was unique. Smesko began the year as head coach. However, he quickly resigned after just two games to be named to the same role with the Atlanta Dream of the WNBA. His coaching philosophy is largely based around the three-point line so every single one of his players are listed on the roster at a made-up position: Shooter.
As soon as Smesko left for a job with the pros, Lyles was elevated from assistant to head coach. She led Florida Gulf Coast to a 30-4 record en route to another ASUN title and March Madness.
However, the player-turned-assistant-coach-turned-head-coach will not return. Chelsea Lyles announced her decision to step down on Monday.
Thank you, Coach Lyles! Chelsea Lyles announces she's stepping down as head coach. Read the full story here: https://t.co/QDk7HS0LQd pic.twitter.com/dEQrUMUyHg
— FGCU Women's Basketball (@FGCU_WBB) March 24, 2025
This move will send shockwaves across women’s college basketball. One of the most dominant mid-major programs in the country needs a new head coach. The search is already underway.
I fully expect Lyles to join Smesko as the associate head coach and/or an assistant with the Dream. It just goes to show that the college game is not worth the hassle. Although Atlanta is a fantastic opportunity, Chelsea Lyles had a good thing going. She inherited a machine and was destined for success.
The pay raise (I assume) and lack of recruiting, in addition to the opportunity to reunite with her mentor was too good to pass up. Lyles is gone after one (not even full) season.