Bio

Emry Tsitouris enters her fourth season as the head coach of the Mars Hill women’s basketball program in 2025-26. Tsitouris was named head coach in spring of 2022 and has since led a remarkable turnaround of the program, transforming a 1-win team into a 17-win contender by her third season at the helm.

Under Tsitouris in 2024-25 the program finished 17-12 overall record (14-10 SAC), the best season since 2010-11. Under her leadership, the team made history by clinching a SAC Tournament bid for the first time since 2015-16 and earning a spot in the Southeast Region D2 CSC polls for the first time since 2010-11. Her impact has been recognized on a national scale, earning D2 National Coach of the Week honors (WHoopDirt/FBPlayBook) while guiding the team to South Atlantic Conference Team of the Week recognition for the third consecutive year. Statistically, the team led the SAC in rebound margin (7.4) and offensive rebounds per game (14.9) Program milestones included setting a new home record (13-2), breaking the school record for most made field goals in a game (45), and defeating four nationally ranked teams.

Beyond team success, Tsitouris has played a crucial role in the individual growth of her players, mentoring All-SAC honorees sophomores Aaliyah El and Tateyoina Harris. El had an outstanding season, ranking 4th in the SAC in scoring with 17.7 PPG and earning All-SAC Second Team honors. El compiled 513 points, shot 180 FT’s ranking #2 in SAC, averaged 2.5a/g, 2.1stl/g, & 5.3rpg in her sophomore campaign. Harris surpassed 500 career rebounds and led the SAC in blocks per game (2.3) while finishing 2nd in field goal percentage (56.1%) and rebounds per game (9.9). On the national stage, Harris ranked: #10 in NCAA DII – Total Blocks (66), #13 in NCAA DII – Blocks Per Game (2.3), #13 in NCAA DII – Field Goal Percentage (56.1%), #19 in NCAA DII – Double-Doubles (14) earing All-SAC Third Team Honors. Senior Maddie Gillie earned Academic All-District honors averaging 10ppg & 3.4rpg.

In 2023-24 season was another season with vast improvements for the program. The squad won double digit games, which marks the first season since the 2015-16 campaign. The team led SAC in team rebounds per game – 43.48, ranked #3 in the nation (DII) rebounds (defensive) per game, 30.6, ranked #8 in the nation (DII) in rebounds per game, 43.33, ranked #28 in the nation (DII) in rebound margin, 6.1, & ranked #50 in the nation (DII) in blocks per game, 3.7. The team was tabbed SAC Team of The Week while Maddie Gillie earned SAC Player of the week honors. They also knocked off a pair of nationally ranked teams.

Jo Snow & Maddie Gillie both reached 1,000 career points. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, junior Maddie Gillie was selected to All-SAC Third Team as well as the Academic All-District Team while freshman forward Tateyoina Harris was named to the All-SAC Freshman Team. Gillie Led SAC in Three-Pointers Per Game – 3.28, ranked #3 in the nation (DII) in 3-point Attempts, 255, ranked #4 in the nation (DII) in 3-pointers, making 96/255 & ranked #39 in the nation (DII) in 3-point percentage, 37.65. Harris Led SAC in Blocked Shots Per Game - 2.04, ranked #15 in the nation (DII) in blocks, 59 blocks in 29 games played, ranked #17 in the nation (DII) in offensive rebounds per game, 3.9, ranked #19 in the nation (DII) in blocks per game, 2.04 & ranked #38 in the nation (DII) in double doubles, 11.

In Tsitouris’s first season at the helm she led the team to 6 more wins than the previous year while beating three nationally ranked teams. The team tabbed a SAC Team of the Week & signed 10 players throughout the year for the 2024-25 campaign.

Prior to her appointment, Tsitouris spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Catawba College, where she played a pivotal role in leading the Indians to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, including a historic run to the NCAA Semifinals. Under her guidance, the team developed several All-SAC selections, highlighted by the SAC Defensive Player of the Year.

At Catawba, Tsitouris excelled in recruitment, identifying and attracting top talent to help build a NCAA DII final 4 team, and was instrumental in monitoring student-athletes’ academic performance. She skillfully managed recruiting visits, game scheduling, and fundraising efforts, while also enhancing the team’s social media presence and overseeing logistics for meals and travel during road contests.

Before her tenure at Catawba, Tsitouris served as a Graduate Assistant Coach at Wingate University from 2018 to 2020. There, she was integral to the Bulldogs’ success, helping the team achieve a second-place finish in the SAC and earn NCAA Semifinalist status. Her commitment to player development resulted in multiple All-SAC honors and career accolades for her athletes.

A standout player herself, Tsitouris played three seasons at USC Aiken, earning Peach Belt Freshman of the Year and All-Conference honors before concluding her collegiate career at Belmont Abbey, where she was named a Conference Carolinas All-Conference honoree.

Tsitouris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Communication and Management in 2018 and later obtained her Master of Arts in Sports Management in 2020.