TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Rose-Hulman athletic department is excited to announce the hiring of Lee Sanford as the new assistant coach for the women's basketball team.
 
Sanford comes to Rose-Hulman after spending the 2025-26 season as an assistant coach at Santa Ana College. Under Sanford's leadership, the Dons put together their best record across the past decade, while boasting three All-Conference honorees.
 
During the 2024-25 season, Sanford worked as an assistant coach for Salisbury University. Sanford came to a program that was coming off back-to-back seasons fielding their worst record of the past ten years. She helped rebuild the Sea Gulls to the #2 seed in the Coast-to-Coast Conference, while the team fielded three All-Conference selections.
 
"I am so excited to welcome Lee to our women's basketball program as the new assistant coach," said head coach Alley Odell. "I have been fortunate enough to compete against Lee in two different conferences, and I have always been impressed by the passion, energy, and genuine care she brings to the game and to student-athletes. I know she will be a tremendous asset to our program, and I am looking forward to everything we can accomplish together!"
 
Sanford also has experience coaching in the HCAC, serving as the assistant women's basketball coach at Franklin College during the 2023-24 season. Alongside her varsity coaching duties, Sanford was the head coach for Franklin's JV team, which she guided to a record of 6-2.
 
Sanford's first full-time coaching stint came during the 2022-23 season as the associate head coach at Denmark Technical College. With the program's head coach needing to temporarily step away, Sanford took over as the head coach, where she led the program to a record of 9-2. Under her leadership, the team concluded the season as the Region 10 runner-up, while fielding three All-Region honorees.
 
"I am thrilled to be here at Rose-Hulman! This is a tremendous full-circle moment for me to come back to the HCAC and coach alongside Coach Odell," said Sanford. "From the time I stepped on campus, it is very evident why our student-athletes choose to come to Rose-Hulman. The faculty, staff, facilities, and academic support create a very inviting atmosphere. I am excited and ready to work with our student-athletes, as we continue with Rose-Hulman traditions!"
 
The Buford, Georgia native graduated from Brenau University in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in general studies and business administration. She would continue her education, earning both a master's degree in sports administration from Belhaven University and a strategic leadership and analytics certificate from Cedar Crest College in 2021.