The Oral Roberts women’s basketball team and Head Coach Misti Cussen have announced the hiring of Lee Mayberry as assistant coach effective Monday, July 16.
A Tulsa native and Will Rogers High School graduate, Mayberry joins the ORU women’s basketball coaching staff after a one year stint as assistant coach at Watson Chapel High School in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Before coaching the Wildcats, he was a part of Head Men’s Basketball Coach Mike Anderson’s staff at the University of Arkansas.
Mayberry’s name is seen in the record book for the Razorbacks as he leads the program in all-time career steals with 291. He ranks second in assists with 729 and third in points with 1,940. He helped the University of Arkansas transition from the Southwest Conference to the Southeastern Conference by winning three straight SWC titles with a combined 42-6 record before making the jump to the SEC and winning a SEC title with a 13-3 record in the 1991-1992 season.
“In many ways, we feel like we are getting to bring Lee home to Tulsa,” Cussen said. “We have been blessed to be personally connected with the Mayberry family for years, and Lee’s name has always been closely associated with high standards of player development and recruiting networks in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Having raised and coached five basketball playing daughters, his move into the women’s college ranks is going to be a smooth transition. Lee’s playing and coaching experience is going to be a huge asset to the development of our current and future perimeter players. But, we are most excited to work with a man of his character and reputation, as he will be a great ambassador for our basketball family and university.”
Selected in the first round of the 1992 NBA draft as the 23rd pick, Mayberry spent his first four years in the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks and played in 328 consecutive games to begin his illustrious career. He then went to the Vancouver Grizzlies to play his final three years and accumulated more than 2,500 points and more than 1,700 assists in his pro career.
“It’s an honor to serve ORU women’s basketball,” Mayberry said. “God continues to open doors for me and my family. I am looking forward to bringing my skills and talents to the program and working with Coach Cussen, the coaching staff, the team and administration.”
Mayberry replaces former assistant coach and ORU alumna Janae Inman.
“We will miss Janae tremendously and are grateful for her years of service and contribution to the program,” Cussen said. “We’re excited for their family’s new opportunity out of state, and I know the Lord will continue to bless them with the arrival of their first child this fall.”
Mayberry is married to his high school sweetheart, Marla, and together they have five daughters: Taleya, Kaylan, Maya, Wyvette and Rhyian. Taleya is a former Graduate Assistant of the ORU program. Kaylan played for the Golden Eagles from 2013-2017. Maya is currently a sophomore on the ORU squad and was named to the 2017-2018 Summit League All-Newcomer team.
Coach Cussen solidified her staff in time for the summer recruiting season. Cussen’s staff includes Jaci Inman, Lee Mayberry and Kyron Stokes as assistant coaches and Chris Wallace as director of basketball operations.
Media interview requests for Assistant Coach Lee Mayberry, Head Coach Misti Cussen or Athletic Director Mike Carter should be made through Assistant Director of Athletic Communications, Jarrett Hardwick, via email, jhardwick@oru.edu, or by calling 918-495-7094.
For the latest information on ORU women’s basketball, follow @ORUWBB on Twitter or go to www.ORUAthletics.com. Fans can also receive updates on the team by downloading the Golden Eagles Front Row App at ORUAthletics.com/frontrow or in the App Store.
