More than 30 years later she remains in the top 10 in career points, rebounds, and field goals made and attempted.
Legette-Jack scored 1,526 points and had 927 rebounds in four seasons at Syracuse
“The mark she made on the program is undeniable”
The Orange will play 17 home games and will kick off the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) season on Nov. 14 against Notre Dame in the Carrier Dome. At the game Syracuse University will Retire Felisha Legette-Jack’s Jersey for the ACC Opener. The Syracuse Native and Nottingham High School Graduate will be honored as Legette-Jack’s jersey will be retired and placed in the rafters of the Carrier Dome.
Felisha Legette-Jack ’89 is the first female student-athlete to be honored on this level at Syracuse University. A veteran basketball coach, Legette-Jack started her collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Syracuse before becoming the head coach at Hofstra and then Indiana. Legette-Jack, currently coaches the University at Buffalo women’s basketball program.
Syracuse -Legette-Jack scored 1,526 points and had 927 rebounds in four seasons at Syracuse, and she is one of three players in school history to score more than 1,500 points and grab more than 900 rebounds. Became the all-time winningest coach in Buffalo women’s basketball history on January 25, 2020 with UB’s win at Kent State, her 156th win in Buffalo.
2021-22 Syracuse Jersey Honorees- Impactful as student-athletes at Syracuse University and as influential figures in the world of sport, four Orange alumni will have their jerseys retired during the 2021-22 academic year. Felisha Legette-Jack (1984-89), Gary Gait (1987-90), Anna Goodale (2002-05) and Katie Rowan Thomson (2006-09) will be honored during Syracuse athletic events over the course of the year.
Felisha Legette-Jack ‘89
Felisha Legette-Jack ‘89 will be the first of four Orange alumni to have their jerseys retired during the 2021-22 academic year and the first female in school history to receive such honor.
When she took off the Orange uniform for the final time in March 1989, Felisha Legette owned the Syracuse women’s basketball career records for points, rebounds, field goals made and attempted, and free throws made and attempted. More than 30 years later she remains in the top 10 in career points, rebounds, and field goals made and attempted. The mark she made on the program is undeniable.
In her first year, Legette earned BIG EAST Conference Freshman of the Year honors after helping lead the Orange to their first BIG EAST Championship. An honorable mention All-American and All-BIG EAST First Team selection as a sophomore in 1985-86, Legette averaged a double-double with 15.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, leading the Orange to a 19-10 record, including a 12-4 mark in the BIG EAST. She followed that up by earning honorable mention All-America and All-BIG EAST Second Team honors following a junior season in which she averaged 13.0 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. After missing the 1987-88 season due to a knee injury she returned to the court and earned All-BIG EAST honors. She was one of 15 players named to the BIG EAST Conference Silver Anniversary Team in 2004. In 2011, she was named a Syracuse University Letterwinner of Distinction.
A veteran basketball coach, Legette-Jack started her collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Syracuse before becoming the head coach at Hofstra and then Indiana. She is currently the head coach at the University at Buffalo, where she has led the Bulls program for the past 10 years.
By the Numbers: Felisha Legette-Jack
Felisha Legette-Jack Head Coach • 318-270 Career Record Syracuse ‘89
- 19 years of head coaching positions Legette-Jack’s Buffalo teams are 177-107 during her tenure there.
Syracuse: -Legette-Jack scored 1,526 points and had 927 rebounds in four seasons at Syracuse, and she is one of three players in school history to score more than 1,500 points and grab more than 900 rebounds. Became the all-time winningest coach in Buffalo women’s basketball history on January 25, 2020 with UB’s win at Kent State, her 156th win in Buffalo.
- Inducted into three different Hall of Fames; Syracuse University Orange Plus Hall of Fame, Greater Syracuse Hall of Fame, Syracuse Urban League Hall of Fame.
- Has instructed many former players to professional playing careers.
- Named an assistant coach for the 2019 Pan American Games Women’s Basketball Team
- Accumulated the most wins (114) in a five-year span in program history (2015-2020)
- Has led Buffalo to 10 or more MAC victories in six of the last eight seasons.
- Three NCAA Tournament appearances in the last six years
- Led the Bulls to their most historic season in program history in 2017-18 as they advanced to the Sweet 16 after defeating #6 South Florida and #3 Florida State, while recording 29 overall wins and 16 MAC wins, both program-bests.
- Fostered the growth of one of the best players in Buffalo history in Cierra Dillard. Dillard led the conference and was second in the nation in scoring in the 2018-19 season, averaging 25.2 points per game.
- Led the Bulls to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year in 2019, becoming the first MAC women’s team to win an NCAA Tournament game in back-to-back years since Toledo did it in 1991 and 1992.
- Developed Dyaisha Fair into one of the best players in all of Division I. Fair has been in the top 10 in the country in scoring for two straight years, earning MAC Freshman of the Year honors in 2020 and was named to the All-MAC First Team and the All-Defensive Team in 2021.
- Coached multiple players onto the Wade Trophy Watch List, awarded to the nation’s best player.
- Under her tutelage, Buffalo recorded four straight 20+ win seasons (2015-19) for just the second time in school history and have won 17+ games in seven of the last eight seasons.
- She has helped 25 players earn All-MAC honors since taking over the Bulls before the 2012-13 campaign.
- 31 student-athletes have earned Academic All-MAC accolades under her guidance.
- Picked up her 300th career victory on February 29, 2020 at Ohio.
- In six seasons at Indiana, she led the Hoosiers to three post-season appearances; tying the school record with 21 wins in 2008-09 which still stands today.
- Guided IU to wins over ranked opponents on five different occasions, including snapping a 37-game regular season win streak for then-No. 19 Nebraska.
- 21 student-athletes earned Academic All-Big Ten honors at Indiana during her time as head coach
Personal Coaching Profile
- West Hill High School…… Head Coach, 1989-91
- Boston College………. Assistant Coach, 1991-93
- Syracuse…………………. Assistant Coach, 1993-00
- Michigan State………. Assistant Coach, 2000-02
- Hofstra…………………………… Head Coach, 2002-06
- Indiana……………………………. Head Coach, 2006-12
- Buffalo…………………… Head Coach, 2012-Present
Education
- High School…………… Nottingham High School Syracuse, NY ‘1984
- College…… Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 1989, B.A., Child and Family Studies B.A., Psychology
Career Head Coaching Records
Overall Conference
- Hofstra (2002-06) 54-63 (.461) 34-38 (.472) CAA
- Indiana (2006-12) 87-100 (.465) 38-64 (.373) Big Ten
- Buffalo (2012-Present) 177-107 (.623) 95-64 (.597) MAC
Basketball action photos of Legette-Jack provided by Syracuse University
