MILWAUKEE – What do you say when it’s just not meant to be? When all the work, want-to and wherewithal find a dead-end with destiny? The basketball gods blessed Iowa State with all the ingredients needed to make a run. In the Big 12. In the NCAA Tournament. On history. 
Iowa State’s season ended Sunday with its 91-78 loss to Ole Miss in the second round of the 
Keshon Gilbert was back in Ames with a season-ending groin injury. Tamin Lipsey was hobbling around the Fiserv Forum floor with his own groin injury . He looked more like the church-league grandpa who doesn’t know he should have stopped playing years ago than the relentless point guard Lipsey is at his best. “Not feeling great,” Lipsey said. “Feeling good enough to go out there and compete and try to win. It sucks, but it is what it is. “Probably one of the toughest games. Things just not feeling great and hard to be my normal self out there.” It all led to a season-ending loss befitting your run-of-the-mill, mediocre college team. Not one that once looked like the class of the country. Iowa State, one of the country’s best on defense, saw the Rebels shoot 58.2 percent from the field and 57.9 percent from 3-point range. The Cyclones, one of the toughest, most aggressive and physical teams in the country, looked listless as they fell behind by as many as 26. “Tonight wasn’t our best,” Otzelberger said, “but it also doesn’t define us. The young men in our program have fought a lot this year, and we’re proud of how they have worked every single day.” 
More: Hines: Iowa State basketball gets its final chance to write its legacy
That magnificent basketball of November, December and half of January still happened. The joy and memories of that electric, dynamic and world-beating basketball team are as much a part of this team’s story as how the season ended. But there will always be a lingering feeling of unfairness. That this team didn’t deserve the fate that found it. That the forces of basketball karma undid the Cyclones’ season more than missed shots, turnovers and blown defensive assignments. A season that failed to live up to expectation because of a team’s own shortcomings, failures and flaws is its own disappointment. One that feels earned. Fair. A season that ends with disappointment because of the randomness of a broken hand or the fickleness of a core muscle is a different, worse sort of fate. One that feels authored not by its participants, but by something unseen. Iowa State was great early this season. The Cyclones could have been special this spring. Worse than the losses that piled up in the Big 12 or the one that ended their season Sunday is knowing what could have been without ever really having a chance to chase it. 
Iowa State columnist Travis Hines has covered the Cyclones for the Des Moines Register and Ames Tribune since 2012. Contact him at thines@amestrib.com or (515) 284-8000. Follow him on X at @TravisHines21.
LYNDONVILLE — Vermont State University Lyndon has named Robin Andrea as its new head women’s basketball coach, succeeding Brennen Morton, who stepped down shortly after the 2024-25 season.
Saleena Porter, who has been serving as interim head women’s basketball coach since Morton’s departure, will remain in her previous role of assistant coach.
Andrea comes to Lyndon after serving as the head coach at Portland Community College in Portland, OR, during the 2024-25 season. In his lone season at Portland he led the Panthers to a 14-15 record, including a 7-9 mark and a 5th Place finish in the Northwest Athletic Conference South Region. Most significantly, he placed 100% of his graduating class into four-year universities.
Andrea’s first collegiate head coaching position came at Yakima Valley College in Yakima, WA, where he spent three seasons from 2021 through 2024. At Yakima Valley he took over a program that had only won two games during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season and built it into a NWAC contender. In 2023-24 he led the Yaks to a 14-12 record, 8-6 in NWAC play, and a berth in the NWAC Sweet 16. His team was among the top five scoring teams in the conference, and he coached three All-Region players including 2022-23 Region Most Valuable Player Aliyah Finch.
Immediately before going to Yakima Valley, Andrea was the lead assistant women’s coach at Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, OR, for three seasons. At Linn-Benton he recruited seven signees who were key contributors to the Roadrunners’ 20-9 season in 2019-20, the program’s first 20-win season in a decade. He was also the team’s defensive strategist as it achieved a top three ranking across the conference.
Andrea’s first foray into college coaching came with NCAA Division II Western Oregon University. He spent five seasons working with the men’s program from 2006 through 2011, before moving over to the women’s program for the 2011-12 campaign. He managed strength training and skill development with the men’s program. With the women he served as head recruiter, worked with the post players, and developed the team’s press schemes.
In between his stints at Western Oregon and Linn-Benton, Andrea spent four seasons with the boys basketball program at Hillsoboro, OR, including two as head coach.
Andrea earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and a minor in Mathematics from Western Oregon University in 2009 and a Master of Science in Sport & Recreation Science from Ohio University in 2011.
“I’m thrilled to lead the Women’s Basketball Program at this outstanding institution. My gratitude goes to David Pasiak, Tara Nelson, and Chris Gilmore for their trust in me,” said Andrea in a school press release. “The deeper I explored our remarkable school, the more energized I grew, and I’m confident we can restore success to the Northeast Kingdom in the Hornets’ green and gold.”
“When I first spoke to Robin about the position as women’s basketball coach here at Vermont State University Lyndon, he expressed a high level of excitement for the women’s basketball program and the University,” said VTSU Lyndon Director of Athletics Chris Gilmore
“That excitement has never wavered throughout the entire interview and hiring process. He showed the committee that he wants his student athletes to succeed in the classroom and on the basketball court. Robin is uniquely prepared to lead our athletes moving forward and to position our women’s basketball program to challenge for conference championships.”
In other college coaching news, first-year head coach of the Norwich women’s ice hockey program Justin Simpson announced Monday afternoon the hiring of Shavonne Leacy as an assistant coach.
Most recently, Leacy served as the founder and owner of Boston Selects Girls Hockey, providing year-round training for players of all ages, including film breakdowns and recruiting guidance. Concurrent with her time at Boston Selects, Leacy served as the Director of Girls Hockey at the Boston Hockey Academy, where she was instrumental in building the girls’ program from the ground up.
Additionally, Leacy spent the last eight years as a coach with USA Hockey. Her background in player development began with coaching at the girls’ varsity level at Princeton Day School in New Jersey while also coaching the Princeton Tiger Lilies.
A native of Hillsborough, N.J., Leacy played collegiately at the University of Connecticut, appearing in 41 contests before earning her bachelor’s degree in 2021.
“I’m honored to join the Norwich University Women’s Ice Hockey program as an Assistant Coach,” Leacy said. “I’m grateful to Director of Athletics Ed Hockenbury, Head Coach Justin Simpson, and the entire athletics staff for the opportunity to be part of an institution with such a strong tradition and commitment to excellence.
“I am excited to work alongside Coach Simpson as the program embarks on an exciting new chapter. The foundation established by former Head Coach Sophie Leclerc Doherty and her assistant coach Taylor Willard has created a program recognized for its excellence both on and off the ice.
“As a former Division I player at UConn, I bring a deep understanding of the game at a high competitive level. My passion has always been to give back to the sport by supporting the growth and development of girls’ hockey at every stage. I look forward to applying this experience and dedication to contribute to the continued success of the Norwich Women’s Ice Hockey team.”
