WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (April 6, 2026) — Winston-Salem State University Head Women's Basketball Coach Tierra Terry has been named the Clarence "Big House" Gaines College Basketball Coach of the Year by the National Sports Media Association.

"This honor is incredibly meaningful, especially given Coach Gaines' legacy and what he represents to the game and to Winston-Salem State University," Terry said. "I'm grateful for our student-athletes, our staff and the support of Ram Nation. This recognition reflects the hard work and commitment of our entire program."

Terry will be honored at the NSMA's 66th awards banquet June 29, 2026, at Grandover Resort & Spa — a Wyndham Grand Hotel — in Greensboro.

The Clarence "Big House" Gaines College Basketball Coach of the Year award is presented to head coaches in NCAA Divisions I and II who may not receive recognition from mainstream outlets. The awards are voted on by an NSMA committee at the conclusion of the NCAA men's and women's tournaments.

Previous winners include Dawn Staley, who has won three DI national championships as head coach of the women's team at the University of South Carolina. Joining Terry as a Gaines Award recipient this year is Jai Lucas, head men's basketball coach at the University of Miami. The Hurricanes went 26-9 on the year.

The Lady Rams had a stellar season, embracing excellence both on and off the hardwood. They finished the year 28-4, going a perfect 13-0 at home and earning Co-Central Intercollegiate

Athletic Association (CIAA) Southern Division Champion honors before winning the first CIAA Tournament Championship in program history. In their NCAA DII Tournament debut, the Lady Rams won their first two games in wire-to-wire fashion by 17 and 19 points, respectively, before losing in the Sweet 16 round.

Terry was named CIAA Coach of the Year, and Breonna Roaf was named CIAA Rookie of the Year. Under Terry's leadership, 13 Lady Rams earned a spot on the CIAA Commissioner's Honor Roll, which required a minimum 3.0 GPA, and the student-athletes performed community service by passing out water at the annual Mistletoe Run sponsored by the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina and reading to Ward Elementary students.

The Lady Rams' success inspired the Winston-Salem community while garnering regional, statewide and national acclaim for the institution.

"The Clarence "Big House" Gaines Coach of the Year award is highly prestigious, particularly because of the legend after whom it's named," said Winston-Salem State University Interim Athletic Director Eric Burns. "I'm sure Coach Terry will treasure this much-deserved accolade and use it as inspiration to push her student-athletes to continue their winning ways on and off the court in the upcoming 2026-27 basketball season and beyond. Because of Coach Terry, I am confident WSSU Women's Basketball will keep rising."

To learn more about Coach Tierra Terry's recognition, click here.

For more information on Lady Rams women's basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or visit www.wssurams.com.

 
ABOUT THE CLARENCE "BIG HOUSE" GAINES AWARDS
The Clarence "Big House" Gaines College Basketball Coach of the Year Awards are presented to the head coach in NCAA Divisions 1 and 2, who may not earn recognition from mainstream outlets. An NSMA committee votes on the awards at the conclusion of the NCAA men's and women's tournaments.
 
Gaines was the head basketball coach at Winston-Salem (NC) State University for 47 seasons. His Rams won 828 games, including the 1967 NCAA Division II National Championship. That team was led by Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, who went on to an NBA Hall of Fame career. Among other notable players Gaines coached were Cleo Hill, the first NBA first-round draft choice from a historically Black college or university, and sports media personality Stephen A. Smith. A former president of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), Gaines was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982. He died in 2005.
 
ALL-TIME GAINES AWARD WINNERS

Year	Division I	Division II
2025-26	Jai Lucas - Miami (M)	Tierra Terry - Winston-Salem State (W)
2024-25	Dennis Gates - Missouri (M)	Tyreece Brown - Fayetteville State (W)
2023-24	Kevin Keatts - North Carolina State (M)	Alfred Jordan - Clark Atlanta (M)
2022-23	Rodney Terry - Texas (M)	Tyneshia Lewis, Elizabeth City State, NC (W)
2021-22	Hubert Davis – North Carolina (M)	Janice Washington – Lincoln, PA (W)
2020-21	No Winner (COVID)	No Winner (COVID)
2019-20	No Winner (COVID)	No Winner (COVID)
2018-19	Kelvin Sampson - Houston (M)	Lonnie Blow, Jr. - Virginia State (M)
2017-18	Leonard Hamilton - Florida State (M)	Ricky Jackson - Claflin University (M)
2016-17	Dawn Staley – South Carolina (W)	AnnMarie Gilbert – Virginia Union (W)
2015-16	James Jones – Yale (M)	AnnMarie Gilbert - Virginia Union (W)
2014-15	Ron Hunter – Georgia State (M)	James Hill, Jr. – Virginia State (W)
2013-14	Monté Ross – Delaware (M)	Leon Douglas - Tuskegee (M)
2012-13	Tommy Amaker – Harvard (M)	James Stinson – Livingstone (M)
2011-12	Anthony Evans - Norfolk State (M)	Jacques Curtis – Shaw (W)
2010-11	Shaka Smart - VCU (Men)	Cleo Hill Jr. - Shaw (Men)