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Balcomb steps down as Associate Head Coach at Texas Tech

By Erica Ayala

KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 21: Head coach Melanie Balcomb of the Vanderbilt Commodores argues with a referee against the Tennessee Lady Volunteers in a game at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 21, 2016 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Patrick Murphy-Racey/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 21: Head coach Melanie Balcomb of the Vanderbilt Commodores argues with a referee against the Tennessee Lady Volunteers in a game at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 21, 2016 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Patrick Murphy-Racey/Getty Images) /
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The Texas Tech Lady Raiders organization announced that associate head coach Melanie Balcomb has stepped down, effective immediately.

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Melanie Balcomb, associate head coach for the Texas Tech Lady Raiders, has resigned for personal reasons, the team announced Tuesday. “At this time, I need to focus on dealing with a family medical issue that won’t allow me to commit my full energies to coaching,” said Balcomb in the team statement.  “I’d like to thank Texas Tech for the opportunity to be a Lady Raider and wish them success as they enter league play.” 

Coaching Pedigree

Balcomb joined the Lady Raiders in July after winning a National Title with the South Carolina Gamecocks in April. Before joining the Gamecocks in 2016-17, the New Jersey native spent 14 seasons as the skipper of the Vanderbilt Commodores.

She is the winningest coach for the program with a 310-149 record. She led the program to three SEC Tournament Championships (2004, 2007, 2009) and Four NCAA Sweet 16 appearances (2004, 2005, 2008, 2009). Seven of her players at Vanderbilt were drafted into the WNBA. Balcomb also coached at Xavier and Ashland University, Niagara University, Ohio University (1989-90) and Providence (1990-93).

Returning to the bench

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley brought Balcomb on to assist with analytics after she found difficulty finding another head coaching position, according to a March 2017 article in the New York Times. Despite her extensive resume, Balcomb felt her sexual orientation, and perhaps even the race of her adopted children led to more difficulty finding a welcoming head coaching job.

Her position at South Carolina helped Balcomb find her footing in the coaching ranks and led to the appointment at Texas Tech.

“I’m excited to get back on the court and help Texas Tech keep moving the needle forward in a positive way,” Balcomb said in July. “The opportunity to work with great people at a program with historical success made it an easy decision.”

However, as of now, her road back to the court has taken another delay. Neither the school nor Balcomb offered specifics as to the specific medical issue afflicting her family.

“We appreciate all that Melanie has done for our program,” Lady Raiders coach Candi Whitaker said, “and we wish her the best going forward.”

The Summitt would like to wish Balcomb and her family peace and good health.

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