West Point – Army head women’s basketball coach Dave Magarity announced the hiring of Shandrika Lee-Gerch, a former standout at Pepperdine University with four years of collegiate coaching experience at Cal Poly, as an assistant coach on his staff on Monday.
Lee-Gerch will fill the vacancy left by former assistant coach Nora Jabbour, who departed in May for an assistant job at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. Along with third-year assistant Lauren Thomer, Lee-Gerch will handle coaching duties for Army’s long list of guards, while also aiding in all other aspects of a Black Knight program that has averaged better than 20 wins per season since Magarity’s hiring in 2006-07.
"We’re very excited about the addition of Shandrika to our staff," Magarity said. "Not only does she bring tremendous expertise as an on-floor coach, but her experience and knowledge of the West Coast and the vast talent that it has to offer will be invaluable in our recruiting efforts."
Prior to her appointment at West Point, Lee-Gerch had spent the last four years as an assistant under longtime Cal Poly head coach Faith Mimnaugh. While in San Luis Obispo, Calif., she was responsible for developing the guards, which included two-time All-Big West first team selection Jessica Eggleston. Under Lee-Gerch’s watch, Tamara Wells and Ashlee Stewart were also named to the All-Big West freshman team.
Lee-Gerch was a part of a staff that put together Cal Poly’s winningest season in 2008-09 (21-11). She also spearheaded many of the Mustang’s community outreach programs, fundraising events and served as the team’s liaison to the department’s academic services staff. She also served as director of Cal Poly’s women’s basketball camps and was the co-director of the Holiday Beach Classic from 2005-09.
A 2004 graduate and standout at Pepperdine, Lee-Gerch led the Waves in points (13.4 ppg), assists (3.2 apg) and steals (1.4 spg) and earned All-West Coast first team honors as a senior in 2003-04. She led her team to a 17-13 mark and a berth in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament. Lee’s junior season was cut short by an ACL injury just prior to Pepperdine’s WCC opener. She did, however, average 17.6 points, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals per contest prior to her season-ending injury.
Lee-Gerch, who paced Pepperdine in steals during three of her four seasons in Malibu, Calif., retired as the school’s all-time leader with 183. Pepperdine’s 14th-leading scorer behind 1,172 career points, Lee-Gerch also ranks second in program history with 173 three-pointers, third with an .813 free throw percentage and eighth with a .348 three-point percentage. Her .449 accuracy from behind the arc in 2002-03 remains a Pepperdine record.
During Lee’s tenure, Pepperdine qualified for two NCAA Tournaments and made a pair of WNIT showings. Lee’s standout collegiate career earned her a tryout with the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women’s National Basketball Association following graduation.
A two-time WCC All-Academic nominee, Lee graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sports medicine. She later earned her master’s degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in physical education and sport studies from Cal Poly in June 2008.
Originally from Moreno Valley, Calif., Lee served as the junior varsity girls’ basketball coach and varsity assistant at Ramona High in Riverside, Calif., prior to her time at Cal Poly.
Lee and her husband, Brett, who serves as Army football’s strength and conditioning coach, reside at West Point.
