Former Longwood women’s basketball volunteer assistant coach Ivana Boyd was brought back to the program as a full-time assistant coach prior to the 2024-25 campaign and helped the Lancers to a strong season in her return.
Boyd helped guide the Lancers to a 20-plus-win year, finishing 22-12 overall after advancing to the Big South Conference championship game and earning a berth in the Triple Crown Sports Postseason WNIT. Longwood earned 20 wins for just the second time at the Division I level and orchestrated a 13-win turnaround from 2023-24, thanks, in part, to an eight-game winning streak from Dec. 18 to Jan. 22. Longwood posted a 9-5 record in regular-season non-conference play, the school's best since the 1987-88 season.McCoy was part of a staff that guided the team to victories in its initial six Big South games of the season, a program first. It was also the first time LU won its first six games in conference since 1999-00 when the Lancers where part of the NCAA Division II Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference.
Longwood did it by playing smothering defense, forcing 24.47 turnovers per game while swiping 13.5 steals per game, figures that were second and third, respectively, in all of Division I women's basketball. Senior guard Kiki McIntyre earned Big South Defensive Player of the Year honors and became the program's all-time steals leader for a single season, collecting 130.
At season's end head coach Lang-Montgomery was named Big South Coach of the Year, another first in Longwood women's basketball history.
Boyd spent the 2022-23 season on staff and came back to southside Virginia after a year as an assistant coach at Jacksonville. Boyd helped the Dolphins to an 11-20 record as they advanced to the Atlantic Sun Conference quarterfinals.
Prior to her first season in Farmville, in which the Lancers finished 9-21 and earned a first-round bye in the Big South Conference championship, Boyd was an assistant coach at the Paxon School for Advanced Studies in Jacksonville, Fla., from July 2020-May 2021.
Boyd played the 2018-19 season under Lang-Montgomery at Division II Flagler in St Augustine Fla., averaging five points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 29 games and 21 starts for a team that went 21-8 overall and 17-5 in the Peach Belt Conference.
“I’m excited to have Ivana return to our staff as an assistant coach,” Lang-Montgomery said upon Boyd's rehire. “Having coached her at Flagler, I was able to see firsthand the impact she can make in a program. I’ve been impressed watching her grow into her own as a coach in this profession. She is a great communicator and has a passion for teaching the game. Our players will benefit from her tutelage.”
“I want to thank coach Special Jennings and the staff at Jacksonville University for the opportunity to join a first-year coaching staff and to learn and grow together over the past year,” Boyd said. “After careful reflection and consideration, I am deeply honored and excited to return to the school that ignited my love for coaching, Longwood University, this time as an assistant coach.
“I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to coach Erika, who has helped shape me into the person and coach I am today, and for entrusting me with this opportunity. I am eager to contribute to the success of the Lancers and to work with such a dedicated group of student-athletes and staff."
A Palatka, Fla., native, Boyd also spent two seasons at Santa Fe College prior to beginning her collegiate career at Lamar of the Southland Conference in 2016-17.
“I want to give all glory and thanks to God for this incredible opportunity,” Boyd continued. “His guidance and blessings have been instrumental in my journey, helping me navigate through every step and difficult decision along the way. Without His blessings and constant support, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Boyd is a 2020 Flagler graduate, earning a degree in business administration.
