![Shanette Lee to coach Merion Mercy Academy basketball team]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1715711150/merionmercy/th3ycmjwf8mlgu3lxx1g/Shanette-Lee.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1715711150/merionmercy/th3ycmjwf8mlgu3lxx1g/Shanette-Lee.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1715711150/merionmercy/th3ycmjwf8mlgu3lxx1g/Shanette-Lee.png","width":600}])
- Athletics
Shanette Lee ‘95 has been named head coach of the Merion Mercy Academy basketball program beginning with the 2024-25 winter season. During her time as a student, Coach Lee and her teammates earned the school’s first-ever basketball state championship (1995), in addition to winning two AACA league championships and two District 1 titles. On May 9, 2024, the team was inducted into Merion’s new Athletic Hall of Fame.
After graduating from Merion, Coach Lee went on to play at Villanova University, where she was a four-year letter winner for the Wildcats and a captain her senior year. She is the University’s all-time assist leader and ranks 9th all-time in steals. Coach Lee received All-Philadelphia Big Five Honors as a freshman (Rookie of the Year) in 1996 and later in her career received Second Team accolades.
Coach Lee stayed on at Villanova as one of the assistant basketball coaches for 21 seasons under legendary coach Harry Perretta. During that time, she was responsible for the administration of the program, served as the student-athlete academic services liaison, and assisted in the recruitment of student-athletes, including recent Wildcat standout, Maddy Siegrist.
Most recently, Coach Lee worked at Agnes Irwin as an assistant for the Athletic Department, the Lower School physical education teacher, and the head basketball coach. In three seasons with the Owls, Coach Lee brought the team from three victories to ten and was able to win nine total conference games after winning none in the four years prior. Coach Lee led the Owls to the Commonwealth Cup Championship, beating Germantown Friends in the final.
Coach Lee also currently coaches for the “Philly Rise” girls basketball club, an AAU program.
As a heavily decorated Golden Bear, Coach Lee is excited to return home to coach a program that was tremendously impactful for her. As she reminisced about her days at Merion Mercy, she spoke of the authentic, warm community and the many traits that make 511 Montgomery Avenue so special. “I’m so excited about coming home to Merion Mercy. I want you all to know that we are going to have fun and learn to play good basketball as a family.”
- Merion Mercy Academy
- athletics
- basketball