Friday had to bring bittersweet emotions for the BYU women’s basketball team as one key figure officially announced they were leaving and another got the word they were staying.

The bad news for the Cougars was that star Shaylee Gonzales, the 2021-22 West Coast Conference Player of the Year, announced that she had decided to seek new opportunities.

“Thank you,” Gonzales posted on her @ShayleeGonzales Twitter feed. “Thank you to my coaches, team trainers, the BYU athletic department, the university donors, and the ROX for the amazing 4 years at BYU. I am so thankful for all the relationships and memories that were made.

“Thanks to my teammates for always having my back and pushing me to be my best on and off the court. Thank you Cougar Nation, family, and friends for showing me so much love and support. BYU will always have a special place in my heart.

“With that being said, after a lot of prayer, I have decided to enter my name into the transfer portal and I could not be more excited for the upcoming opportunities.

“Shaylee Gonzales, #2”

Since BYU had a coaching change after May 1, Gonzales had the choice to enter the portal even though it is after the official transfer time period. She will likely get interest from a number of big-time schools, given her career average of 17.7 points per game, as well as five rebounds and four assists per contest.

While her loss will be a challenge for the Cougars, new BYU head coach Amber Whiting was able to get a key coaching figure to stay — with a promotion.

Whiting announced Friday that Lee Cummard has been hired as women’s basketball associate head coach.

“I couldn’t be more excited to have Lee with me as associate head coach,” Whiting said in the press release. “Not only was he an amazing player here at The Y, but he brings a wealth of coaching knowledge and experience. Lee has established himself as a great recruiter, and I see him continuing in that capacity, along with expounding upon skill development, game prep and in-game tactics/adjustments. I’m looking forward to working side-by-side with him as we take on this new challenge.”

Cummard takes on the new role after serving as an assistant coach on the women’s basketball staff for the past three seasons.

“BYU is a special place,” Cummard said. “The game of basketball is special. I’m lucky to be a part of this new era of BYU women’s basketball. Thrilled to be working alongside Coach Whiting, our staff, with our current players and future players.”

Last season, BYU (26-4) won the West Coast Conference regular-season championship en route to a No. 20 final ranking in the Associated Press Top 25. The Cougars were ranked for a program-record 16 consecutive weeks during the year.

Cummard also fulfilled head coaching duties in Jeff Judkins’ absence early in the season due to Covid-19 and went 3-0 with an in-state win over Utah State and two victories over ranked teams to win the St. Petersburg Showcase in Florida. BYU defeated No. 17 Florida State and then No. 22 West Virginia to win the tournament.

The Cougars beat five Power 5 teams in 2021-22, went undefeated at the Marriott Center (14-0) and set an attendance record for regular-season average and the most attended women’s basketball game in school history with 6,289 fans on Feb. 19 against Gonzaga.

Cummard has helped BYU to back-to-back NCAA tournament bids both last season as a No. 6 seed – the highest in program history, and an 11 seed in 2020-21. BYU went on to upset Rutgers in the first round that season and play No. 2 Arizona down to the wire in the second round.

He has helped coach two All-Americans in Shaylee Gonzales and Lauren Gustin and 12 All-Conference players with the women’s program in three years.

Prior to joining the women’s basketball staff, Cummard served one year as an assistant coach on the BYU men’s basketball team (2018-19) and two years as a graduate assistant (2016-18) with Dave Rose after completing an All-American collegiate career with the Cougars and a successful professional career. In the two years as a graduate assistant, he helped BYU to back-to-back 20-win seasons and a pair of trips to the NIT.

Cummard was a member of the Cougar men’s team from 2005 to 2009, where he was a three-time All-Mountain West Conference player. After earning third-team honors as a sophomore in 2006-07, he was a first-team honoree in 2007-08 and 2008-09. Cummard was the Co-Player of the year and received Associated Press All-America honorable mention recognition in 2007-08. He also earned all-district honors from the NABC and USBWA in 2008 and 2009 and was named a fourth-team All-American by FOXSports.com in 2009.

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