11/3/2026 12:00:00 PM | Women's Basketball
After leading the Ladyjacks to back-to-back Southland Conference Tournament titles and consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, Leonard Bishop has signed an extension to remain at the helm through the 2030-31 season
NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael McBroom has announced that women's basketball head coach Leonard Bishop has signed a contract extension that will keep him at the helm of the Ladyjacks through the 2030-31 season. The official announcement was made on Tuesday, November 3.
The extension is Bishop's first since being named the 10th head coach in program history on April 14, 2023. He enters his fourth season after compiling a 76-28 record, winning back-to-back Southland Conference Tournament championships and guiding the Ladyjacks to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
"We are thrilled to secure Leonard's leadership of our Ladyjack basketball program through the 2031 season," remarked McBroom. "He has done an outstanding job building on the championship tradition at SFA, and back-to-back conference tournament titles and NCAA Tournament appearances speak for themselves. Leonard is an exceptional recruiter, a tremendous developer of young women, and has proven to be an outstanding tournament coach. We have tremendous confidence in his leadership and are excited about the future of Ladyjack basketball under his direction."
Last season, Bishop led SFA to a 25-10 overall record and a 16-6 mark in Southland play. The Ladyjacks captured the program's 18th Southland Conference Tournament championship with a 71-59 victory over top-seeded McNeese, then advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season.
McBroom added, "What makes Leonard special goes well beyond basketball. He and Ashley have raised their family here, their children are part of our local schools, and they have truly made Nacogdoches their home. Leonard has an incredible ability to connect with people, whether it's a student-athlete, a longtime Ladyjack fan, or a community leader. He's genuine, approachable, and deeply invested in the people around him. Those relationships matter, and we're fortunate to have Leonard, Ashley, and their family as such an important part of the SFA and Nacogdoches communities."
Bishop has continued one of the nation's most consistent winning traditions since taking over the program. In 2024-25, he guided SFA to a 29-6 record, the program's highest single-season win total since the 1988-89 Ladyjacks went 30-4. The Ladyjacks claimed the program's 17th Southland Conference Tournament title and earned their 21st NCAA Tournament appearance. With the semifinal-game victory over Lamar, Bishop became the fastest head coach in Ladyjack history to reach 50 career wins.
"I am deeply humbled and grateful for the opportunity to continue leading the Ladyjacks program," noted Bishop. "I want to thank Dr. Neal Weaver and Michael McBroom for their trust, vision, and continued commitment to women's basketball at Stephen F. Austin. Their belief in me and in what we are building means more than I can say. I would also like to thank my agent, Michael Harrison, for his hard work and dedication."
Under Bishop, Ladyjack student-athletes have also earned significant individual recognition. Five players have collected All-Southland Conference honors during his tenure as head coach, while Myka Perry was named Southland Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player in the 2025-26 season. Bishop's teams have produced five All-Tournament selections, two All-Defensive Team honorees and two First Team All-Southland selections.
Bishop added, "None of what we have accomplished happens without our student-athletes. They are the heartbeat of this program, and I am proud of the young women they are becoming on the court, in the classroom, and in our community. I also want to thank our assistant coaches and support staff, who pour everything they have into these young women and the program every single day. Our athletics department is in a great place, and I want to continue building on the momentum and positive energy. To our fans, our students, alumni, donors, and everyone in Ladyjack Nation: Thank you! Your passion fills our gym, and your support is felt by every player who puts on this uniform."
Before taking over as head coach, Bishop spent seven seasons as SFA's associate head coach and helped build the foundation for the program's recent postseason success. He joined the Ladyjacks in 2016 after coaching stops at Texas A&M-Commerce and Missouri Baptist.
"Most of all, I want to thank my wife Ashley and our children Khendyn, Leonard, and Khelsie. Their love, sacrifice, and support make everything I do possible, and I could not do this without them. Nacogdoches has wrapped its arms around us since the moment we moved here, and we couldn't be more thankful. We love this university, we love this community, and we are excited to keep building something special in the Piney Woods. Axe 'Em, Jacks!" Bishop said.
A Dallas native, Bishop played collegiately at Three Rivers Community College, Collin County Community College, and Texas A&M-Commerce, where he graduated in 2008. He and his wife, Ashley, have three children: Khendyn, Leonard Bishop III, and Khelsie.
