“I AM HOME!”

Syracuse University “started a new era in the history of its women’s basketball program” with the introduction of former Orange All-American Felisha Legette-Jack ’89 as head coach, on Monday. 

With the basketball banner-adorned walls of the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center as a fitting backdrop, Legette-Jack capsulized the moment in three words delivered with unbridled enthusiasm:

“I AM HOME!”

Legette-Jack returned to her alma mater – an institution where she excelled as a student-athlete and later an assistant coach – to take charge of the Orange basketball program.
 
“This is a happy day for Syracuse. I am overjoyed to join in welcoming Coach Felisha Legette-Jack home to this University and community,” said Syracuse Chancellor Kent Syverud, when introducing the newest Syracuse head coach.

“This is a coach who wants her students to succeed as human beings, as students, and on the court,” added Chancellor Syverud. “I know Coach Legette-Jack is going to make us a better place, and that she and her team are going to be leaders in the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference).”

Legette-Jack, who was born and raised in Syracuse, started accumulating a Dome-full of basketball accolades just a few miles from where the press conference was conducted, at Nottingham High School. She was a part of two state championship teams at Nottingham and then moved a handful of city blocks west to suit up for the Orange.

She blazed a trail of accolades while suiting up for the Orange. It started almost immediately. Legette-Jack earned BIG EAST Conference Freshman of the Year following her rookie campaign. She helped the Orange to the program’s first BIG EAST Championship. Legette-Jack’s sophomore year was capped with honorable mention All-America and All-BIG EAST recognition. She averaged a double-double (15.8 ppg., 10.1 rpg.).

Legette-Jack duplicated the honorable-mention All-America laurels and added All-BIG EAST Second Team recognition in her third campaign. A knee injury caused her to miss the 1987-88 season but she was back in form and earned All-BIG EAST honors again in her final year. Legette-Jack completed her collegiate career as the program’s all-time leader in points and rebounds.

“Today starts a new era, a new book in the history of our women’s basketball program. I’m excited to work with and support Coach Legette-Jack, her staff, and our student-athletes. We share a common vision,” said John Wildhack ’80, Syracuse Director of Athletics. “Coach Legette-Jack is the right person at the right time to lead this program. She earned this opportunity.”

Wildhack thanked his search committee members — Herm Frazier (Senior Deputy Athletics Director), Kirsten Elleby (Deputy Athletics Director and Senior Women’s Administrator), and Rick Burton (Faculty Athletics Representative).

Legette-Jack transitioned right into a coaching career, getting her start at Westhill High School just outside of Syracuse. After two years, she joined the women’s basketball staff at Boston College as an assistant coach. She’s been in the collegiate ranks ever since.

She returned to Syracuse to join Coach Marianna Freeman’s staff, a position she held from 1993-2000. Next was a two-year term as an assistant coach at Michigan State. In 2002 Legette-Jack was selected as head coach at Hofstra. After guiding her club to a 19-12 record and a Women’s National Invitational Tournament berth, Legette-Jack was tabbed to take over the Indiana program. The Hoosiers made three straight WNIT appearances during her six years at the helm.

Buffalo entrusted her with its program in 2012. She methodically built that program into an annual contender for the postseason. In 2017-18, Legette-Jack coached the Bulls to a 29-6 record and the school’s first NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 visit. This past year was special as well, with Buffalo earning another NCAA bid and closing the season with a 25-9 record.

Somewhat ironically, Legette-Jack was back on campus at the start of the 2021-22 season to be honored as the first Syracuse female to have her jersey retired. She already owns residence in the Greater Syracuse Hall of Fame, the Syracuse Urban Sports Hall of Fame, and the Syracuse University Orange Plus Hall of Fame. She was named to the BIG EAST Conference Silver Anniversary team in 2004.

When it was her time to stand at the podium, Legette-Jack thanked Chancellor Syverud and Wildhack for the opportunity, and then turned to her immediate family.

“I want to thank the gentleman who has been in my life for 25 years, my husband, David Jack. It would not have been a possibility for me to come without you in my life.” She also singled out their son, David Maceo Jack, who sat in the front row with his dad. “I get excited about this opportunity because there is lady who lives right down the road, Thalia Legette, who gave birth to me. She is battling Alzheimers, but for some reason when the game of basketball comes on, she thinks I am still playing, and she gets excited. For those moments she comes back and I think that there are going to more days where we are going to find Thalia Legette as that person who really has been a great blessing for this entire community.

“This place is special. People who come to Syracuse, it’s because it’s a viable option. They come here because it is a destination,” Legette-Jack said. “Let’s get to work.”