May 31, 2006

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - (Wednesday, May 31, 2006) Redhawks women's basketball Head Coach B.J. Smith announced the hiring of John Ishee to his coaching staff for the 2006-07 season. Ishee rejoins Coach Smith after serving as a volunteer assistant coach during Coach Smith's first season at the helm of the Southeast program in 2002-03. Ishee, a veteran of 19 years of collegiate coaching experience, comes to Southeast from Division II New Mexico Highlands University where he served as head coach of the Cowgirls last season.

"We are extremely fortunate to hire someone of Coach Ishee's caliber," said Coach Smith. "His experience and success at the collegiate level speaks for itself and I'm confident that he'll demand the same excellence in our players and program that he puts on himself."

Ishee has compiled a collegiate head coaching record of 34-24 (.586 winning percentage) including a 12-14 record last season at New Mexico Highlands University. During the 2001-02 season he finished with a 22-10 record at the helm of the Runnin' Eagles. That season he led the Runnin' Eagles to a No. 18 ranking and a Sweet 16 appearance in the NAIA Division I National Tournament. Life University would drop collegiate athletics the following season leading to Ishee Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

In Coach Smith's inaugural year at Southeast, Ishee helped the team to a 19-11 record including an 11-5 record in Ohio Valley Conference play. That season the program made their first appearance in the OVC Tournament finals before falling to Austin Peay in the championship game.

"I'm extremely pleased with being back here at Southeast," said Coach Ishee. "Working alongside Coach Smith the first time around helped me grow as a coach and I feel comfortable here in Cape Girardeau and working with Coach Smith and Coach Pace again."

After leaving Southeast to moved on to New Mexico State University where he served as the team's top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for two seasons. During the 2003-04 season he helped lead the Aggies to the program's first and only Sunbelt Conference Tournament Semifinal appearance. His team also beat the program's only top-25 nationally ranked opponent. His 2004-05 recruiting class was rated one of the top-50 in the nation by the All-Star Girls Basketball Report.

Prior to his head coaching stint at Life University he served as an assistant at Saint Louis University for one season and spent three seasons at Ole Miss as the team's recruiting coordinator. During his stint at Ole Miss the team made the National Women's Invitation Tournament (WNIT) in 2000.

During the 1996-97 season the Gulfport, Mississippi native was with McNeese State University as the team's Associate Head Coach. That team made it to the Southland Conference Semifinals.

In 1995 he was an assistant coach at the University of Pacific, who made an appearance at the Big west Tournament Finals.

From 1991 thru 1994 he served as an assistant coach at his alma mater Southern Mississippi. Those teams made two NCAA Tournament appearances including a Sweet 16 appearance. Ishee recruited and help lead the squad to a school best national ranking and finish with a record of 26-5.

He served as a graduate assistant coach for the Southern Mississippi men's team from 1989 thru 1991 assisting the team to a 1990 NCAA Men's Tournament appearance.

From 1987-1989 he served as the head coach for both the men's and women's basketball teams at Prentiss High School in Prentiss, Mississippi. There he captured two division championships and two state playoff berths while compiling a combined record of 77-40 at the prep level.

Ishee received both his Bachelor's of Science and Master's Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi.

"I look forward to contributing my knowledge and experience to Coach Smith so we can sustain and build on the success that he has had here at Southeast," said Coach Ishee.