COACHING STAFF


Marty Rowe - Head Coach

Marty Rowe joined the Lee University family in 2004 after a very successful six years at Brescia University in Owensboro, Kentucky.

Rowe has compiled a dominating 308-66 record in his 11 seasons as leader of the Lady Flames, including leading his squad to the 2015 NCCAA National Title last season. He has an overall mark of 439-131 in his 17 years as a head coach.

The Lady Flames made a big splash into NCAA Division II and Gulf South Conference (GSC) play in 2013-14 under Rowe's leadership. Lee finished in first place in the conference with an 18-2 record and ended the year at 25-6 overall. The Lady Flames made their second consecutive appearance in a national championship game, finishing second in the NCCAA National Tournament.

Despite being two years away from full 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.

In 2012-13 Rowe led the Lady Flames to their first ever appearance in the NAIA National Championship Game and continued his streak of 20-win seasons and NAIA National Tournament appearances, running both totals to 13 consecutive years. In nine seasons at Lee, Rowe has amassed an impressive record of 260 wins against just 52 defeats.

In 2011-12 the hardworking coach became the winningest coach in Lee women’s basketball history, surpassing 200 wins and also moving past Hall of Fame Coach Jack Souther, who won 218 games in his time at Lee. Rowe led his team to the program’s seventh consecutive Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) regular-season title by claiming the SSAC East Division with an overall record of 30-4, 19-1 in conference play, tying a program record with 28 regular season wins. The Lady Flames shined off the court as well being named the NAIA’s Five Stars Champion of Character award winner.

In 2010-2011, the Lady Flames squad posted a 31-6 overall season record and turned in an outstanding performance at nationals, becoming the first Lee basketball team, men’s or women’s, to reach the Fab Four. 

Rowe has rightfully received recognition for his successful programs. After the 2005-2006 team attained a 26-7 overall record, Rowe was named the Russell Athletic/WBCA NAIA Coach of the Year, in only his second year with Lee. In the same season, Rowe also received the SSAC Coach of the Year award, and was given the same award following the 2006-2007, 2007-2008, and 2011-2012 campaigns. Overall, he has won a region or conference Coach of the Year award 11 times throughout his career.

Coach Rowe’s success began at Brescia University. In six years, he posted a 131-65 overall record there. In 2004, his Lady Bearcats reached the Fab Four of the NAIA National Tournament before falling to the eventual national champions, Southern Nazarene University.

According to Rowe, recruiting is a valuable part of winning at any level of college basketball. He focuses his recruiting on bringing quality student-athletes and individuals into the Lee program who are hard workers in all facets of life. Clearly, his emphasis on recruiting has paid off. He has recruited and coached seven NAIA All-Americans and nine NAIA Scholar-Athletes at Brescia. In nine seasons at Lee, he has added 16 NAIA All-Americans and 22 NAIA Scholar-Athletes to the list. 

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 one grandson, Bryson.


Jan Spangler - Assistant Coach

Jan (Dodson) Spangler returns to Lee University to serve her fifth year as an assistant coach under coach Marty Rowe. Spangler had previously been a graduate assistant for the Lady Flames, following her playing career at Lee.

After five years as a player and two as a graduate assistant with Rowe, Spangler accepted the head coaching position at Walker Valley High School two summers ago. Taking over the after the retirement of longtime coach David Tucker, Spangler directed the Lady Mustangs to 23-1 record, claiming the District 5-AAA regular season championship, including a No. 3 ranking in the final Class AAA Associated Press poll. Walker Valley went 2-2 in tournament play, ending its overall record at 25-3.

As a player, Spangler scored 1396 points and pulled down 716 rebounds in leading the Lady Flames to four trips to the NAIA National Tournament. She was named a Second Team NAIA All-American in 2007-08 and an NAIA All-American Honorable Mention in 2006-07. Spangler was a three-time All-SSAC member and was named to the 2004-05 SSAC All-Freshman Team. She also excelled off the court by becoming a three-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Jan is married to former Lee University baseball player Patrick Spangler. The couple has one son, Hudson Tyler and resides in Cleveland.