Maddie Gillie joined the Bears as a Graduate Assistant Coach prior to the 2025-26 season.
In 2025-26 Gillie helped lead the Bears to one of the best seasons in program history and the team's first ever Southeast Regional Championship game appearance. Lenoir-Rhyne finished the 2025-26 campaign with a 26-6 (20-2 SAC) record and won the fifth SAC Regular Season championship in program history. Helped along by a program-record 19-game win streak, the Bears won 20 SAC games, a new program record. The Bears ranked second on the country in both free throws made and scoring offense, and were 13th in scoring margin. Aaliyah El was named a WBCA Honorable Mention All-American while Abigail Brown became Lenoir-Rhyne's fourth SAC Freshman of the Year. Elyseia Brown was an All-SAC Third Team honoree while Ralee Bear was named to the All-Freshman Team.
Gillie comes to LR after an impressive playing career at fellow SAC institution Mars Hill. During her four years with the Lions, Gillie helped the team improve from a 1-25 record her freshman year to a 17-12 record and a birth in the SAC Tournament her senior year. Those 17 wins were the most for a Mars Hill Women's Basketball squad since the 2010-11 season.Â
She finished her career with 1,400 points, tied for 11th in school history. Gillie had career totals of 252 three pointers, 262 free throws, 481 boards, 113 assists, and 99 steals. A native of Rutherfordton, N.C., Gillie was a 2024 All-SAC Third Team honoree.Â
