Press Conference (Video)
Lindenwood University announced today that it has hired Saint Louis University assistant coach Tony Francis as its new women's basketball coach. Francis accepts his first collegiate head coaching job after spending eight seasons as an NCAA Division I assistant coach.
“You just can't get any better than the environment at Lindenwood University,” said Francis. “There's so much momentum at Lindenwood with the possible move to NCAA Division II. It's an exciting place and I am honored to be a part of the Lindenwood family.”
President James D. Evans and Athletic Director John Creer introduced Francis during a press conference on Tuesday.
“We had more than 150 applicants for the job,” said Creer. “Tony Francis stood out immediately. He possesses everything we are looking for in a coach. Tony has an excellent plan, he is a superb recruiter, and he is committed to our team's success in the classroom as well as on the basketball court.”
At Saint Louis, Francis was the recruiting coordinator and he helped the Billikens land some of the top talent in the St. Louis area and beyond. He was also in charge of developing the team's post players. The past couple of seasons, he was a mentor to center Amanda Kemezys, who earned Atlantic 10 all-conference honors the past two seasons. He also signed Theresa Lisch, who was a first-team all-conference and Academic All-American at Saint Louis.
Francis helped the Billikens win 82 games. He was a member of the staff in 2002-03 when the team finished fifth in the Atlantic-10 and advanced to the WNIT. That squad had the second-best winning percentage at Saint Louis over the last 23 years.
Prior to coaching at Saint Louis, Francis was a successful head coach at Silex (Mo.) High School from 1994-2002. In eight years, he led the Owls to a 159-67 record and won five district and five conference championships. His top team came in 2001 when Silex won the Class 1A Missouri state championship. Francis coached five All-State players and nine players earned college basketball scholarships. He was named the 1A Coach of the Year after his state championship season. He was the Lincoln County Coach of the Year five times and District Coach of the Year once.
Francis is familiar with the Heart of America Athletic Conference—he played basketball at Culver-Stockton College. He then begin his coaching career there as a men's student assistant, helping the team win the 1991 HAAC Championship. He graduated from Culver-Stockton in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in physical education.
Francis and his wife, Rhonda, have two daughters, Lexis and Arianna.
Francis takes over a Lindenwood team that is looking to regain its glory from the beginning of this decade when the Lady Lions won a HAAC Championship and advanced to two national tournaments, including one quarterfinal appearance.