LEWIS UNIVERSITY

Lewis University Director of Athletics Dr. John Planek announced on Thursday (July 30) that he has hired Kristen Gillespie as the 12th head women’s basketball coach in school-history. Gillespie, who served as the head coach at Division III Benedictine for the past four seasons, is the granddaughter of coaching legend and former Lewis Director of Athletics, head basketball and baseball coach Gordie Gillespie. Gillespie comes to Lewis after leading Benedictine to a record of 18-10 in 2015, which was the most wins by an Eagle squad since 2006. Upon her graduation, Gillespie had brief stops as an assistant coach at both Central Florida (1999-2000) and UC Santa Barbara (2000-02), before returning to Raleigh to pursue her masters degree as a graduate assistant under Yow.