October 23, 2024
Cayla Petree out at Morehead State; program silent on why
Assistant coach Chris Palmer appears to be the Eagles' interim head coach
Less than two weeks before the women’s college basketball season begins, there has been a third coaching change in the Division I ranks. Maureen Magarity resigned from Holy Cross in August, Bill Carr stepped down from Santa Clara earlier this month, and a source familiar tells The Next that Cayla Petree is out at Morehead State women’s basketball.
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Petree, who was entering her fourth season as the head coach of the Eagles, was not present at the team’s media day on Monday. The event began with Morehead State athletic director Kelly Wells, who did not hire Petree, offering a brief and vague statement.
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“Morehead State University is committed to following appropriate procedures and we ask for your understanding as we work through this process,” Wells said. “We are unable to comment further on personnel matters at this time. Our focus remains on supporting our student athletes and ensuring the success of this program.”
When pressed by The Next for more information regarding Petree’s status of employment, a Morehead State athletics spokesperson said, “This is a personnel matter, and we cannot and do not comment on any matters involving personnel.”
Petree did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
On the social media accounts for Morehead State women’s basketball, Petree’s presence seems to have been suppressed. For example, the bio on the team’s X account lists the handles of three of its assistant coaches with no mention of Petree. As publication time, however, she is still listed as head coach on the team’s official website.
At Monday’s media day, assistant coach Chris Palmer — who was officially hired by the program in June — seemed to assume the role of interim head coach, taking questions from fans and reporters. He wasn’t directly asked about Petree’s absence.
“Just loving on the players, just pouring everything I have into them, they make everything worth it. I’m really excited to have this opportunity and for [Wells] to give me that opportunity,” Palmer said. “On and off the court, I think more of it is how you lead right now and how we establish a culture. And then the next part is the x’s and o’s. I think that part is going to take care of itself.”
Palmer previously coached at Division II Southern Wesleyan in Franklin, South Carolina. He has also worked as an individual player development coach, touting AD Durr as a client.
This past offseason, 10 players transferred out of the Eagles’ program. Remaining players weren’t asked about Petree on Monday, either, but spoke highly of Palmer.
“I like playing for Coach Palmer,” redshirt freshman Michelle Ugwah said. “He has a lot of new offense, a lot more freedom. I think that he’s creating offense that’s going to benefit each of our players individually, really well, playing to our strengths.”
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Before arriving at Morehead State in 2021, Petree coached in the junior college ranks, leading Gulf Coast State for one season and South Plains College for five, amassing a record of 139-46 as a JUCO coach with four trips to the NJCAA National Tournament. In the 2019-20 season — cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic — she led South Plains to 26 consecutive wins and a No. 2 seed in the national tournament. She was named Coach of the Year by the WBCA and NJCAA.
Petree’s tenure at Morehead State got off to a rough start as she went 1-27 in her first season, then 11-20 in her second campaign. The Eagles appeared to have taken a step forward last year though, going 15-15 overall — including a win over NCAA Tournament team Marshall — and 10-8 in the Ohio Valley Conference. They were picked to finish eighth in the OVC this season.
Morehead State begins its season on Nov. 4 at home against Division III Asbury.
