JOHNSON CITY, TN—
Tinesha Lewis is stepping into her second season as a head coach at UNC Asheville, and she’s feeling a sense of gratitude. As she prepares for the 2025-26 season, there’s a clear routine in place. They know their practice schedule and where it will take place. After intensive training sessions, the players head back to their homes or dorm rooms.
Sometimes, while walking around campus or Kimmel Arena, I catch myself smiling, almost out of nowhere.
“I’m just smiling because I can practice in the gym,” Lewis reflects. “Just being able to drive home and back.”
Last year, things were quite different for the Bulldogs. Nature, in the form of Hurricane Helen, didn’t allow them to benefit from the usual comforts that collegiate athletic programs often take for granted.
Hurricane Helen wreaked havoc in western North Carolina during the last weekend of September 2024. The storm caused power outages and communication issues in areas that usually remain unaffected by such extreme weather. Reports indicated that at least 108 lives were lost due to the storm’s aftermath. Additionally, Helen damaged approximately 126,000 homes in the region, leaving around 12,000 individuals without stable housing.
Following the storm, UNC-Asheville needed to become a nomadic team. Players and coaches traveled to Charlotte, staying in hotels for weeks and practicing wherever they could find a gym. Often, these locations were high school facilities or other universities, and the Charlotte Hornets even offered their court for practice. It was common for them not to have the same practice space two days in a row.
For the Bulldogs, this was a true test of adversity—far more significant than an injury or a tough defeat against a rival.
“We had a unique perspective. Living in a hotel while others didn’t, for example,” Lewis shared with SB Nation at Big South Media Day. “It’s been tough for them…but gratitude is something I live by, and that was definitely a theme last year.”
It’s tricky to gauge just how much this nomadic lifestyle and the impact of the storm shaped UNC Asheville’s preseason and overall performance on the court.
“I can’t say for sure, but I’m so proud of how these young guys handled everything. It was difficult,” Lewis mentions. “Athletes thrive on structure. If there’s one change, it can throw everything off. Here, 700 things changed. Maybe that affected our season. Maybe. But what I do know is they learned a lot about resilience… We also had an incredible number of injuries, which might link to not having our usual resources.”
“But we don’t dwell in excuses. We focus on what happened and ask: ‘What’s our takeaway?’”
Again, assessing the influence of those circumstances on game performance isn’t straightforward, yet the results certainly weren’t stellar. UNC-Asheville ended the season with a bleak 4-27 record overall and 1-15 in Big South play. They did manage a win in the Big South Tournament, edging out Presbyterian 69-63.
In that game, Deborah Orianegbena stood out, leading the team with nine rebounds, six points, one assist, and a steal. She’s one of the only three returning players for the Bulldogs this season.
Given the previous results, Lewis understood that a roster overhaul was necessary. She brought in 11 new players, including six transfers from various universities like North Carolina A&T and Coastal Carolina, along with three who came from junior colleges.
“The big change with this team is everyone is very athletic,” Orianegbena noted. “We’re all on the same pace. We’re all running.”
Lewis actively searched for new talent, prioritizing a specific mindset.
“I don’t think playing is hard for me, but playing can be tough. There’s a standard to maintain, and it doesn’t shift. If you don’t strive to meet that, it won’t work out. Nothing wrong with that, but you’ve got to show up,” Lewis explains, her hands raised above her head. “Do you want to win in every area? In the community? In the classroom? If your answer to any of those is no, then I’m not the coach for you. That’s what I’m seeking. Everyone wants players who can perform, but can they collaborate? Because this isn’t tennis; teamwork is essential.”
Lewis, who hails from North Carolina, shone as a three-time All-ACC player at NC State and was pivotal during her freshman year when the Wolfpack reached the Final Four.
After six seasons in the WNBA, she embarked on her coaching journey. Before her time in Asheville, she successfully led Division II Elizabeth City-State to three CIAA title game appearances, their first-ever NCAA Tournament entry, and earned the 2023 Clarence Gaines Division II Coach of the Year accolade.
“I’m a winner everywhere. Anything I set my sights on, I achieve,” Lewis stated. “I want my players to believe they can do it too. So I must model this behavior for them.”
Though last season’s win-loss record wasn’t ideal for Lewis, there was substantial defensive progression. They ranked 13th nationally in 3-point defense, allowing opponents to shoot merely 27.1 percent from beyond the arc.
“We want to defend aggressively, aiming to lead the league in defense. That’s always been my vision,” Lewis emphasized. “This year, if they miss a shot, we’re going on a break. It’s fantastic to defend the 3-pointers, but we need to capitalize on missed shots. A missed three-pointer should prompt a quick transition for us. So this year, if they shoot, they better make it.”
“They’re not keen on running a half-court offense. I can always call the plays, but they prefer to run.”
In terms of pace, the Bulldogs can only improve. Last season, they ranked 335th out of 362 in points per 100 possessions.
Unlike the previous year, UNC-Asheville will have four home games in November, thanks to the aftermath of the storm. Fans attending these games can expect to see the team charging toward the basket with renewed energy.
If the team can turn the tide and secure more wins than losses, Lewis will likely find herself smiling more often. And this time, she’ll know exactly why.
