Quntashea Lewis returned to Salem after spending the 2018-19 season at Mount Saint Mary College, where she served as assistant women's basketball coach. In her one year with Mount Saint Mary, she helped lead the program to its most successful season ever (23-6), which included advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Lewis, who is one of only three players in Salem history to score 1,000 career points, graduated Salem in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science and a minor in coaching.
Lewis capped off her playing career at Salem by ranking first in Salem's career history in offensive rebounds (335), defensive rebounds (472) and total rebounds (872). She also ranks second in Salem's career history in field goals made (475), points (1208) and points per game average (20.7).
Lewis closed out her Spirit career by ranking third in Salem history in minutes played (2508), games played (96), field goals made (475), field goals attempted (980), field goal percentage (.485), free throws made (241) and free throws attempted (385). Her accomplishments on the courts of Varsity Gym did not stop there, as she tallied 34 double-doubles as a Spirit. She holds the programs' single-game marks in defensive rebounds (17) and total rebounds (28).
Prior to her position at MSMC, Lewis served two years as a graduate assistant at Eastern Mennonite University, where she assisted in player development and recruiting. While coaching at EMU, she earned her master's degree there in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in organizational leadership.
In a recent conversation "Q", as she is known by all those in Salem athletics took time to discuss her passion for basketball, coaching and her life and provided the following responses:
Describe the coaching path that has brought you to Salem.
LEWIS: I was first introduced to Salem in 2012 as a student and spent four years enjoying my time as a member of the campus community. Upon graduating in 2016, I went on to explore graduate assistant coaching opportunities that landed me at Eastern Mennonite University, a competitive DIII institution in Harrisonburg, Va. After two years of learning both on-and-off the court, I received my masters and secured an assistant coaching position at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, New York. I spent one season with MSMC's highly successful women's basketball program before being afforded the opportunity to come back to Salem and once again contribute to a community that has gifted me with so much as a person.
When you think back to learning how to play basketball at a young age to where you are now (coaching it at a college level), what fundamentals do you focus on every day in practice and during the offseason to better the players?
LEWIS: I actually began my playing career super late. I really started playing the summer before my senior year of high school, followed by playing into my senior season and the summer following. I don't have that "I've been playing since before I could walk" story but in my short career I've had some great coaches who have instilled the importance of the fundamentals and as have those on my coaching staff. Throughout practice and the off-season, we strongly emphasize endurance/conditioning and nutrition. In day-to-day practices we try to integrate drills that work on multiple skills (ball handling, passing, shooting, rebounding, defense, offense) at once and do positional breakdowns (post/guard split) as often as possible. Additionally, we try to take some time to reflect before or after practice on a quote, article or image that challenges us to use our voice to interpret or explain how it makes us feel and relate it to life beyond the court.
Who are the individuals that have had the biggest impact on you as a coach and why?
LEWIS: My previous coaches, teammates and several professors have all impacted my understanding and love for the game. It's difficult to choose who's had the biggest impact because they have all coached me throughout instrumental points in my learning, playing and coaching career. With that being said three immediate come to mind:
As a player, head coach Anita Howard along with my teammates gave me the confidence to believe that my voice has purpose and that I am capable and able. Coach Howard and our staff at the time planted so many seeds that I carry with me throughout life every day.
As a graduate assistant at Eastern Mennonite, head coach Kevin Griffin really allowed me to be involved in every aspect in the program and let me learn through hands-on experience from the time I was hired. Coach Griffin trusted me and that showed me he genuinely believed in me. He also taught me the importance of building relationships with players and the holistic nature of our role as coaches to do more than just coach.
As an assistant at Mt. St. Mary's, Head Coach Michael Coppolino taught me the importance of detail and always being prepared. How to have a plan as well as how to deconstruct that plan so you are ready to take on anything that may go astray. His organization and attention to detail is the definition of "staying ready so you don't have to get ready."
At what point of your life did you know that you wanted to be a basketball coach and what led you to making this decision?
LEWIS: Coaching peaked my interest as a potential career path in my senior season of high school and became something I was passionate to pursue early on in my college career. I think I fell in love with the game beyond playing. I love playing basketball but I believe I've always been someone who loves to play whether the gym was empty or the stands were packed so in that way I will always be satisfied with being able to play. Being a coach allows me to "pay it forward" and help young individuals beyond the realm of basketball. So many people in my life have said "basketball is the vehicle" and I truly believe that. I really care about the relationships I build and the spaces I provide for my players to grow together.
Now that you have had time to reflect on the 2019-20 basketball season, name some things that you took away from the season.
LEWIS: My biggest takeaway from the season is that I have a strong and resilient bunch of players and coaches. Coming in as a young and new first time head coach, I am so thankful to them for sticking with me and trusting me throughout it all. This year we were tasked with redefining success beyond wins and losses and I am so gracious of the progress we have made in aspects that are not directly reflected in the scores column. I see a vision of what's to come and my team does as well. We are all grounded and rooted in acknowledging our first year together and that bonds us. The road ahead is not easy but I believe we are all motivated to be better for each other.
You form a tremendous bond with your student-athletes both on and off the court. How does this help you in developing the Salem basketball program for future success?
LEWIS: Basketball is all about relationships. The X's and O's of it all can only take you so far. As coaches we have to believe and have a team beside us that does as well. You get those strong relationships by caring about the people and not just the players you have on your team. That bond helps you create standards and those standards overtime become a culture. If you start with a strong foundation and continue to build, success is bound to come in the future.
During the offseason what techniques do you focus on in order to help the players to improve their offensive and defensive skillset?
LEWIS: Over the summer we will provide our team with a suggestive workout packet involving drills, workouts and nutritional facts to improve their overall game. This summer we look forward to giving our players access to watch and breakdown film. Additionally, we will also look to get our minds right by providing articles and book excerpts to grow our understanding of teamwork, mental toughness, communication and other important aspects of the game and life in general.