Chelsea Lyles coached her final game as FGCU’s women’s basketball coach on March 22 against the Oklahoma Sooners. Although the Eagles lost to the Sooners, it marked the end of a historic season. Lyles led the team to a 30-2 record and the Eagles went undefeated in ASUN play.
For many, her resignation came as a surprise to staff and players, including FGCU Athletic Director Colin Hargis. They found out about her departure on March 24.
Hargis met with media on Thursday, March 27 for the first time to address Lyles’ departure and the future of the women’s basketball program. Hargis is in his first full year as the FGCU athletic director.
“She said she needed to step away for personal reasons,” Hargis said. “I was really looking forward to building the next chapter with her.”
This marked the end of a 17-year career at FGCU, as Lyles started her journey in Southwest Florida as a player before she found herself on the coaching staff.
“In that meeting, her mind was pretty made up at that point, so obviously that didn’t work,” Hargis said.
Before taking over for former FGCU coach Karl Smesko, who departed for the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, Lyles was in her sixth year as an associate head coach with a 148-20 record. She became only the second head coach for FGCU’s women’s basketball program.
The only losses FGCU faced under Lyles were against Oklahoma and Montana State, 81-58 and 58-49, respectively. Both teams made this year’s NCAA Tournament.
“Who’s the right leader? That person’s going to bring the offense with them, the defense with them,” Hargis said. “The whole schematics that makes their coaching philosophy successful.”
Lyles’ departure has continued FGCU athletics’ carousel of head coaches leaving their respective programs. Since June, there have been six coaching changes between five programs.
Josh Molino took over as men’s tennis head coach in late July, which was followed a few months later by Karl Smesko’s departure two games into the women’s basketball season. Lyles was announced a day later as Karl Smesko’s replacement.
Oliver Twlevetrees and Thais Baziquetto-Allen were hired to take over the men’s soccer and volleyball programs. Former men’s soccer coach Jesse Cormier was replaced, while former volleyball coach Matt Bodsford took the UCF head coaching opening.
David Dieros will coach his final season as softball head coach this year before he steps back into an administrative role. Lyles rounded out this cycle with her announcement on Monday.
“I think when you look at the coaching hires and the situations that we’ve been in, they’ve all been individual and unique,” he said. “You don’t want turnover, but we have to embrace that.”
The turnover has not stopped with the departure of Lyles, as nine players are set to leave the nest over the offseason.
Emani Jefferson, Dolly Cairns, Skyler Gill, Khmari Mitchell-Steen, Lauryn Taylor and Alahna Paige have ran out of NCAA eligibility. While Cerina Rolle, Casey Santoro and Kaelyn Flowers have all hit the transfer portal per On3’s Transfer Tracker.
“Not to put words into their mouths and not to speak for our student athletes, but I think there’s just a little bit of shock, and again, just disappointment that we’re faced with this situation again within one season,” Hargis said.
However, FGCU has built up an impressive resume, as a dominant mid-major out of the ASUN. The program won its ninth consecutive title and the 12th in the last 14 years.
“We have an incredible opportunity here at FGCU, the rich history that we have both within that program and this athletic department. I’m encouraged by it,” Hargis said. “We’re getting going this week, and the initial interest in 72 hours already has me really encouraged about this next chapter.”
