COMMERCE, Texas – A&M-Commerce women's basketball coach Nicole Anderson today announced the hiring of Leonard Bishop as the Lions' new assistant coach. 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 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.