Coach Marty Rowe continues to build on his resume as not only the most successful coach in the history of Lee basketball, but one of the best in Tennessee women’s college basketball as he returns for his 22nd year as head coach of the Lady Flames.
In addition to his coaching duties, he now carries the role of Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations. In this role he facilitates communication between faculty and staff, helping engage student athletes into the life of the university and works across departments to ensure student-athlete success.
A native of Central City, Ky., Rowe is a 1988 graduate of Murray State University. He and his wife, Pam, reside in Cleveland. The couple has one daughter, Brittany, son-in-law Chris Gates and two grandchildren, Bryson, and Brooklyn.
The veteran coach claimed his landmark 600th-win on Dec.4, 2022, at West Alabama. Rowe recorded another milestone in his outstanding 20-season Lee coaching career on Feb. 17, 2018, when the Lady Flames defeated Delta State for his 500th win.
The 2024-25 Lady Flames put together an impressive 25-7 (17-5 GSC) record and earned a ninth trip to the NCAA DII National Championship where they defeated the University of Tampa before falling to host Union University.
Coach Rowe’s Lee team continued to build on his club’s winning 20-plus games in his 21 seasons with the Lady Flames. His coaching record at Lee stands at 537-147 and in 27 years as a head coach, including six years at Brecia University (Ky.) he is 666-212 overall.
Mallory Hampton completed her superb career by being named First Team All-GSC, All-Region, honorable mention All-American and to the Women’s Academic All-District® Team. Haylee Johnson was First Team All-GSC, All-Region and was joined by Anna Muhonen the Women’s Academic All-District® Team. Muhonen was the 2024 GSC Champion Scholar Athlete.
Rowe’s team finished with a 21-11 mark in 2023-24 and at the time his coaching mark at Lee stood at 510-140. His 25-year overall career mark as head coach was at 641-205. Rowe’s teams had won 20-plus contests in 22 of his 26 seasons, including 20 with the Lady Flames.
The 2023-24 campaign was highlighted by eighth straight year to the NCAA DII National and back-to-back victories over Valdosta State and West Florida. After a pair of tough regular season defeats to Union University, the Lady Flames bounced back and knocked the Lady Bulldogs out of Gulf South Conference play with a 68-66 win. In the National Tournament Lee’s season ended with a loss to a talented Nova Southeastern (Fla.) club.
Mallary Hampton was named All-South Region and DII honorable mention All-American while Anna Muhonen and Haylee Johnson joined Hampton on the 2023-24 Academic All-District team. Overall, the team recorded an impressive 3.667 GPA. Academic honors not only go to players who stand out in the classroom but also on the playing court.
The 2022-23 Lady Flames posted a 26-7 record and were 21-3 in GSC play. Lee was the No.1 seed in the GSC tournament and defeated West Alabama and Valdosta State before falling to Union in the tournament final. Rowe’s team received a seventh straight bid to the NCAA National D2 Tournament and advanced to the second round with a win over Lynn University.
Host and powerful Tampa University claimed the regional honors with a victory over the Lady Flames. Guard Haley Shubert put the wraps on a tremendous career by being named WBCA All-American and All-South Region for the second straight year.
The 2020-21 season was limited to Gulf South Conference play only due to COVID-19 Pandemic. The Lady Flames won eight of nine contests down the stretch before losing to rivals Union University in the GSC Tournament finals and Valdosta State in the opening round of the NCAA National DII South Regional.
During the 2019-20 season the Lady Flames claimed a share of the Gulf South Conference regular season title with a 17-3 record. Despite being upset by rival Delta State in the GSC tournament, Rowe’s team was ranked first in the NCAA National South Regional with a 26-4 overall record. The Lady Flames were ready to host their first-ever NCAA DII South Regional when the NCAA ordered all play to be shut down due to COVID-19.
Lee finished the 2018-19 with a 25-7 overall mark and 16-4 in GSC regular season play and captured its first GSC tournament title with an 81-73 win over rival Valdosta State. The Lady Flames season ended with a 72-63 loss to the University of Tampa in the opening round of the NCAA DII South National Tournament.
During the 2017-18 season the Lady Flames made their second appearance in the NCAA National Tournament and posted the program's first NCAA postseason win with a 66-64 victory over North Alabama.
Lee qualified for the NCAA National Tournament for the first time in school history in the 2016-17 season. The Lady Flames finished with a record of 20-11 and were third in the GSC, defeating rival Union University in the GSC Tournament. Lee ended the year with an 84-77 loss to No.1 seed Eckerd College in the opening game of the NCAA DII South Region championship.
In 2015-16 the L0ady Flames finished at 20-10 overall and earned their first-ever GSC Tournament victory, in a 63-62 win at West Florida. Sophomore guard Erin Walsh was named to the NCAA DII CoSIDA All-American team, All-South Region First Team, and Gulf South Conference First Team.
The Lady Flames won the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Championship in 2014-15 as Kayla Beavers set a tournament and school record with nine 3-pointers made in the championship game.
Lee made a big splash into the NCAA DII and the GSC in 2013-14 under Rowe's leadership. The Lady Flames finished in first place in the conference with an 18-2 record and ended the year at 25-6 overall. Lee made its second consecutive appearance in a national championship game, finishing second in the NCCAA National Tournament that year.
Despite being two years away from full NCAA Division II membership, Lee's Hollie German was named to the WBCA Division II All-American team. The all-time leading scorer in Lee history was the only member of the GSC to make the 10-member team.
During the 2012-13 season Rowe led the Lady Flames to their first ever appearance in the NAIA National Championship game. The Lady Flames were defeated in the title game but finished with a sparkling 34-3 record.
Coach Rowe’s success began at Brescia University (Owensboro, Ky.). In six years, he posted a 131-65 overall record. In 2004, his Lady Bearcats reached the Fab Four of the NAIA National Tournament before falling to the eventual national champion, Southern Nazarene University.
