Women’s basketball welcomes new head coach

Hired in April 2025, new women’s basketball coach Heather Macy kicks off her 26th year of coaching at NSU.

Macy’s collegiate basketball career started as a player at Greensboro College. She played there from 1996-2000 and is eighth in program history for three-point field goals made and ninth in games played, which earned her an induction into the Greensboro College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.

“I don’t think there was ever a question that when my playing career ended that I would stop being around the game, so coaching became a natural progression,” Macy said.

Macy started off as an assistant coach at Catawba College in 2000 and subsequently had assistant coaching positions at Lenoir-Rhyne University, High Point University and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Macy became the head coach at Pfeiffer University in 2005 and since then has served as a head coach at East Carolina University, where she is the all-time winningest coach. Macy was also a head coach at Francis Marion University, Spartanburg Methodist College, Greensboro College and Barry University.

“I’m proud to say I’m one of the few coaches who has coached Division I all the way to junior college as a head coach,” Macy said. “I’ve been able to see a lot of different levels and players and why they may or may not be successful.”

Macy cited several reasons for deciding to come to NSU after coaching two seasons at conference rival Barry.

“This is such a prestigious institution at an elite level where I get to work with amazing people every single day in an amazing area of the country,” Macy said.

Her experience at Barry gives her advantages she can use during her time as a Shark both on and off the court.

“I have some familiarities with the teams that we’re going to play against, but I also better understand the state of Florida and how to travel, for example when you’re traveling where you should eat and stay and those kinds of details,” Macy said.

Despite having more than 350 career wins, Macy wants her legacy as a coach to be more than her victories.

“What I’d like to be remembered by is not all of the winning, but as someone who found ways to help people be successful every single day,” Macy said. “I love being around my players.”

In addition to her basketball career, Macy is the author of two books and the founder of the Two Feet In organization, which are centered around helping athletes use emotional intelligence to enhance their performance. She implements this knowledge into her coaching.

“I’m an emotionally regulated coach, so as that filters down to our staff and athletes, I think that creates great consistency,” Macy said. “When you have consistency of performance and attitude, you typically have a great group that works every day to become the ultimate teammate.”

The NSU women’s basketball team ended its 2024-25 season with a 27-7 record and advanced to the Sunshine State Conference tournament final as well as the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA tournament. Macy hopes to build on the program’s success.

“When joining an athletic department with this kind of reputation, the goal is to win every single game day and win championships,” Macy said.

Ryan Romero, interim director of athletics, is confident in Macy’s capability to help the team succeed.

“We’re incredibly excited to welcome Coach Heather Macy to NSU. She brings a wealth of experience, a clear vision for excellence, and a passion for developing student-athletes both on and off the court,” Romero said. “Her energy and leadership are exactly what we need as we take the next step forward with our women’s basketball program.”