FLORENCE, Ala. (April 10, 2026) – University of North Alabama women's basketball head coach Anna Nimz officially announced three familiar faces to her coaching staff Friday with the addition of Leasa Ailshie, Mike Brown and Greg Waters as assistant coaches.

All three worked under Nimz at Northwestern State, helping build a one-win program into a Southland Conference contender. This past season, the staff led Northwestern State to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in nearly a decade.

All three will begin their new positions at North Alabama immediately.

Ailshie brings 16 years of experience to North Alabama. She comes to UNA after six seasons as the associate head women's basketball coach at Northwestern State alongside Nimz from May 2020 to April 2026.

She got her start in coaching as a graduate assistant at her alma mater, Sam Houston State, from January 2010 – May 2011. Her next stop was Jacksonville College, where she held titles of assistant coach, associate head coach and eventually head coach of the women's basketball team from June 2011 – May 2018. Ailshie additionally served as the school's athletic director from December 2015 – May 2018. She was a finalist for the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2018 and coached multiple NJCAA All-Americans and NJCAA Academic All-Americans during her tenure.

Her final stop before Northwestern State was at Texas-Rio Grande Valley, where she served as an assistant registrar for NCAA certification from July 2018 – April 2020.

"Coach A is an exceptional leader, recruiter and player development coach," said Nimz. "She brings a wealth of experience to our program and an understanding of the culture and standard of what it means to be a Lion women's basketball player. Coach A has a knack for recruiting high level points guards and developing them into all conference players. Over the course of our time together, our players have grown significantly in their three-point ability. Her workouts drive success, confidence and allow us to shoot at a high clip. I am excited to get her to campus and get to work!"

Brown brings to UNA over 25 years of coaching experience after spending the last six seasons as an assistant women's basketball coach at Northwestern State. He served on the staff under Nimz from 2020-2026, marking the second stint the two worked together. The two initially coached together and helped rebuild the program at Kilgore College from 2015-2017.

Prior to Northwestern State, Brown was an assistant women's basketball coach at Missouri S&T from 2017-2020. He had five-year stint at William Penn College from 2010-2015, serving as an assistant women's basketball coach from 2010-2012 before being elevated to head coach prior to the 2012-13 season.

Brown coached at Upper Iowa University from 2005-2010, serving as the head coach from 2008-2010. He had an eight-year stint at Iowa Central Community College from 1997-2005, taking over as head coach before the 1999-2000 season.

Additional coaching experience includes serving as the head sophomore and assistant varsity coach at Des Moines Roosevelt HS from 1996-1997. Brown got his coaching start as a student coach at Drake University from 1992-1996.

"Coach Brown brings a lot of years of experience to our program and understands the vision and philosophy of our program," said Nimz. "He is a great high school and junior college recruiter that understands the importance of building and maintaining relationships throughout the season. In addition to coaching and development, he will be in the community and the driving force behind our camps and golf tournament. His 'no job is too big or too small' mentality sets him apart from so many. I am so thankful to have him by my side at UNA!"

Waters joins North Alabama after spending the past two seasons as an assistant coach and director of basketball operations at Northwestern State from Sept. 2024 – April 2026. Before his tenure at Northwestern State, he was a video analytics volunteer at the University of Tennessee for the 2023-24 season.

In 2023, Waters was also a video coordinator intern at Jacob Begin Basketball in Portland, Ore. He received additional experience as a player development assistant at the Hoosier Shooting Academy in Indianapolis, Ind. from Sept. 2022 – Jan. 2023.

"Coach Waters brings heart, drive and determination to our program," said Nimz. "He has a very analytical mind that aids us in the recruitment of players, film breakdown and scout player personnel. Coach Waters will be a tremendous asset as he continues to grow and excel in college coaching. I am ready to get him on campus!"

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.