Vanderbilt's Shea Ralph Named Naismith Women's Coach of the Year

Ralph becomes the first Vanderbilt head coach to win the prestigious national coaching award.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 2:40am

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The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced that Vanderbilt women's basketball head coach Shea Ralph has been named the 2026 Werner Ladder Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year. Ralph is the second Commodore coach to win a national coach of the year honor, as Jim Foster was named the United States Basketball Writers Association National Coach of the Year in 1992-93.

Why it matters

This award is a significant achievement for Ralph and the Vanderbilt women's basketball program. Ralph has led the Commodores to their most successful regular season in school history, guiding the team to the Sweet 16 for the first time in 17 seasons. The recognition highlights the impressive turnaround Ralph has orchestrated in her five seasons as head coach.

The details

In her fifth season at Vanderbilt, Ralph took a team that returned just one starter from the previous season and led the Commodores to a 29-5 overall record, including a 13-3 mark in SEC play. Vanderbilt's 29 wins are the third-most in program history, and the 13 conference victories set a school record. The Commodores earned a No. 2 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament and hosted March Madness games in Memorial Gymnasium for the first time since 2011-12.

  • Vanderbilt posted a 29-5 overall record in the 2025-26 season.
  • The Commodores went 13-3 in SEC games, setting a school record for most conference victories in a season.
  • Vanderbilt earned a No. 2 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The players

Shea Ralph

The fifth-year head coach of the Vanderbilt women's basketball team, who has led the Commodores to their most successful regular season in school history.

Jim Foster

The former Vanderbilt head coach who was named the United States Basketball Writers Association National Coach of the Year in 1992-93, the only other Commodore coach to win a national coach of the year honor prior to Ralph.

Mikayla Blakes

The Vanderbilt sophomore guard who was named the 2025-26 SEC Player of the Year and a first-team All-American by numerous publications.

Aubrey Galvan

The Vanderbilt first-year point guard who was selected as the SEC Freshman of the Year.

Daniel Diermeier

The chancellor of Vanderbilt University, who shares Ralph's vision for the women's basketball program.

Candice Storey Lee

The athletic director of Vanderbilt University, who also shares Ralph's vision for the women's basketball program.

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What they’re saying

“I am honored and grateful to be recognized as the 2026 Werner Ladder Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year. This award is so much bigger than me. Great players make great coaches, and I am incredibly blessed to get to coach great players on my team. My staff is my family, and their belief in me and in our program has helped us to one of the best seasons in school history. I am fortunate that our chancellor, Daniel Diermeier, and our athletic director, Dr. Candice Storey Lee, share my vision for Vanderbilt women's basketball. This award is for everyone who has helped our program set a new standard for excellence this season.”

— Shea Ralph, Vanderbilt Women's Basketball Head Coach

What’s next

Ralph and the Vanderbilt women's basketball team will look to continue their success in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, where they will aim to advance further than the Sweet 16 and potentially compete for a national championship.

The takeaway

Shea Ralph's recognition as the Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year underscores the remarkable turnaround she has engineered at Vanderbilt. By leading the Commodores to their most successful regular season in program history, Ralph has established Vanderbilt as a national power in women's basketball and positioned the team for continued success in the years to come.