Nicole Anderson begins her third season at the helm of the A&M-Commerce Lady Lions in 2011-12.

Anderson’s dedication and passion about the game of basketball are among her most well-known traits, and that passion helped pay dividends in 2010-11 as Anderson coached Mattilyn McIntyre to a handful of Lone Star Conference honors. McIntyre ranked fourth in the conference in scoring en route to being named a second team All-LSC selection.

A San Diego, California native, Anderson excelled as a player at the collegiate level as she was a four-year team captain at UCLA. There, she was a first team All-Pac-10 selection in 1993.  She is one of just 23 players in Bruin history to notch 1,000 career points and Anderson led the Bruins in assists and steals in each of her four seasons and still ranks fifth all-time in the UCLA record books in both career assists (470) and steals (274).

Anderson was honored as one of the greatest 15 players in UCLA women’s basketball history in 1998 and was a Naismith Award candidate as a senior, which is given to the nation’s top collegiate basketball player.

In 1991, Anderson represented the United States in the William Jones Cup in Taipei, Taiwan. Through her leadership, the U.S. went on to win a bronze medal as she was named to the all-tournament team. Anderson went on to play for the Los Angeles Sparks developmental team in 1997 before entering the coaching ranks.

Following her playing days, Anderson spent six seasons as the head coach at Francis Parker High School in San Diego as well as a history and physical education teacher. On the court, she guided the Lancers to three state CIF semifinals, a quarterfinal appearance and was ranked third in the state. Six of her players went on to receive Division I basketball scholarships.

Anderson made the jump to the collegiate ranks in 2000, spending one season as an assistant coach at the University of San Diego, where she was involved with recruiting and player development. She coached a pair of first team all-conference players during her stint with the Toreros.

In 2001, Anderson was named the head coach at the University of New Haven in West Haven, Connecticut. In her one season at the helm of the Chargers, Anderson compiled an 11-15 record and coached Phoenicia Wright, a four-time all-conference selection and an Academic All-American. She also coached current Lion assistant coach Adelina Gentry, who was a two-time all-conference selection.

Anderson returned to the west coast the following season, accepting an assistant coaching position at San Diego State. She spent two seasons with the Aztecs, focusing primarily on guard development and recruiting. Anderson also had a pair of guards earn All-Mountain West accolades.

She then spent the next five seasons at Long Beach State, serving as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. During her time at Long Beach State, the 49ers had victories over 12th-ranked Southern California and 15th-ranked Houston and captured the Big West Conference championship in 2004-05 as Anderson’s defense was ranked 13th in the country.

Anderson oversaw eight all-conference players at Long Beach State, including a Player of the Year in Crystal McCutcheon and an Academic All-American in Lauren Simms. Anderson also coached and developed first team all-conference selection Karina Figueroa, who went on to play with the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks.

Anderson also served as the CEO for Hoop School, a non-profit organization located in Long Beach which she founded in 2004. Hoop School teaches middle school and elementary-aged students the fundamentals of basketball to improve fitness and nutrition in an effort to combat childhood obesity.

Anderson and the Hoop School have conducted basketball clinics for the Japan Junior National Team and several junior college teams in Shiga, Japan, where her coaching expertise is highly sought after.

Anderson earned her bachelor’s degree from UCLA in 1993, followed by her master’s degree in business administration in 2008. She is currently working on her doctorate in sports psychology.

Anderson's Career Coaching Record

Leonard Bishop is in his first season as an assistant coach for the A&M-Commerce women's basketball team, joining the staff in December of 2012. Bishop will handle the responsibilities of player development and recruiting coordinator, as well as overseeing the Lion basketball camps and community relations.

“I am so pleased to have Len join the women's basketball staff,” said head coach Nicole Anderson. “He brings composure and knowledge as well an understanding of the community of Commerce. He has the ability to motivate and relate to the players in a way the will help challenge them to be successful on and off the court.”

Bishop is no stranger to A&M-Commerce, having played for the Lions from 2006-08, seeing action in 58 games with 43 starts. Bishop averaged just under six points and three rebounds for A&M-Commerce, helping lead the Lions to the championship game of the Lone Star Conference tournament in 2008.

Known as one of the top defenders in the conference, Bishop was named the 2008 Terry Allen Award winner, given annually to the men’s basketball player who exhibits the greatest heart and dedication to the Lion program.

Bishop spent one season as a graduate assistant coach for the Lion men’s basketball team from 2010-11, helping A&M-Commerce to a second-place finish in the LSC North Division as the Lions advanced to the LSC tournament. He also spent one year as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis, Mo., where he oversaw recruiting, team travel and team workouts.

A native of Dallas, Bishop earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from A&M-Commerce, followed by his master’s degree in secondary education. Coaching runs in his family as well as he is the son of Leonard Bishop Sr., the legendary high school basketball coach at Dallas Lincoln High School.