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Clancy Ends Storied Tenure At W&L
Women’s Basketball Coach Led Team To Elite Eight This Year
Washington and Lee University head women’s basketball coach Christine Clancy resigned last week, W&L Michael F. Walsh Director of Athletics Jan Hathorn announced on Friday.
“This is a bittersweet moment on so many levels,” said Hathorn. “It’s hard to express the depth of our gratitude for how Christine has positively impacted our campus community – as a coach, faculty member, colleague and friend. Her leadership of the women’s basketball program, her mentorship of women coaches and the ways she championed women in athletics, her compassionate support of all students across campus through her work with OIE [Office of Inclusion and Engagement] and the athletic department DEI [Diversity, Equity and Inclusion] committee, and her dedication to her role as a faculty member and director of physical education are but a few of the areas where her absence will be greatly felt.”
Reflecting on her 12 years at the helm for the Generals, Clancy said, “Coaching the W&L women’s basketball program has been a privilege, I am so proud of the accomplishments of the student athletes and teams that I have coached. I believe wholeheartedly in the future of this program. At this time, it is important for me to prioritize my health, happiness and family. I would like to thank Jan Hathorn, President Dudley and W&L for supporting me, believing in me and entrusting me with the leadership of the W&L women’s basketball program.”
The program saw some of the finest moments and seasons in its history under Clancy’s leadership. During Clancy’s time at the helm, the Generals went 190-116 (.621) overall and 125-65 (.658) in ODAC play, with two conference championships, three NCAA Tournament appearances and a run to the 2024 NCAA quarterfinals, the first such appearance in program history. Clancy leaves W&L as the all-time program wins leader, and she also has the highest winning percentage among all coaches in program history.
The 2023-24 team solidified itself as the most successful team to date in program history, setting program records for wins (29) and winning percentage (.906), among a myriad of other statistical high marks. During postseason play, W&L secured its second straight ODAC title and its first NCAA Tournament hosting opportunity. The Generals won in each of the first two rounds, the first NCAA Tournament wins in program history, before adding a Round of 16 win over No. 3 and undefeated Rhode Island College the following weekend in Providence.
Clancy posted seven consecutive winning seasons to close out her tenure, with a 130-47 (.734) record in that span. The Generals also won 13 or more ODAC games in the final five consecutive full seasons, with a program-record 17-1 ODAC mark in 2023-24 highlighting a total conference record of 49-5 (.907) over the last three seasons.
Individually at W&L, Clancy was a two-time ODAC Coach of the Year (2022, 2023), and she helped her players claim 24 All-ODAC citations, five all-region awards and five All-America citations, in addition to the 2023 D3hoops. com National Rookie of the Year in Mary Schleusner (Class of 2026). Clancy also coached five ODAC Players of the Year, two ODAC Rookies of the Year and three ODAC Scholar Athletes of the Year.
“Christine was the quintessential department member who could be seen volunteering to assist with home contests, and in the stands cheering on all our teams,” said Hathorn. “In every way, Clancy made W&L a better place. We will miss her immensely.”
A national search for a new head women’s basketball coach will begin immediately.
