Women's Basketball Head Coach
Terri R. Deike

When Terri Deike became the first women’s basketball coach at the University of Texas at Tyler, she brought with her not only 22 years of experience as a head coach, but also a commitment to winning that has inspired her Patriots to three ASC East Championships in the program’s first five years.

Deike, a veteran of the East Texas high school basketball ranks, coached at Whitehouse, Hallsville, Belton, and Overton, spending 22 years as a varsity head coach before taking the reins as the first coach of the Patriots.

Deike’s legendary commitment to defense and the fast break paid dividends immediately.  In their first season, the Patriots finished 8-17, 6-8 in the ASC. Freshman Sha Shead was named the conference’s East Division Freshman of the Year, and joined by RaTonya Hunter on the ASC All-East Freshman squad.

The Patriots took a quantum leap forward in 2005, winning their first ASC East Division Championship. UT Tyler went 16-8, 16-6 in the ASC. Five of her players were given All-ASC honors, and Deike was named the East Division’s Co-Coach of the Year.

Returning for their third season, the Patriots defended their ASC East title successfully, finishing with a dramatic overtime win against Mississippi College to secure a share of the conference championship. UT Tyler wound up the year 17-8, 17-5 in the ASC. Five more players were named to All-ASC teams, and guard Sarah Stanley was named the East Division Player of the Year.

Stanley was named preseason Player of the Year for the 2006-2007 season, and Deike’s Patriots were picked in the ASC’s preseason polls to win the East Division again.

In 2007, the Patriots once again retuned to the mountain top, winning their third ASC East title in five years.  In addition to winning the division title, the Patriots earned the right to host the ASC Tournament, a first for the University.  In the conference’s post-season awards senior Kasey Buggs became the second of Deike’s player to win ASC East Player of the year, while freshman Melissa Thomas became the first player since the 2003-2004 season to win the ASC East Freshman of the Year award.

Deike earned her bachelor’s degree from East Texas State University, and her master’s degree from UT Tyler. She serves as sponsor for UT Tyler’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Student Athlete Advisory Committee. She and her husband Dale have a son, Dylan and and a daughter, Taylor.

Terri Deike: Year-by-Year

Coach Terri Deike can be reached at 903-565-5983 or by email at tdeike@uttyler.edu.

Assistant Coach
Cassi Little

Cassi Little enters her second season as assistant women’s basketball coach for The University of Texas at Tyler in 2008. 

A native of Groesbeck, Texas, Little is no stranger to the Patriots basketball program, having spent four years facing UT Tyler during her playing career at American Southwest Conference rival UT Dallas. 

During the 2006-2007 season, Little served as a student-assistant coach for the Lady Comets.

During her time as a four-year starter for UT Dallas, Little set five career records and one season record for UTD.  She is currently the career leader in blocks, rebounds, free throws made, field goal percentage and field goals made at UT Dallas.  She also holds the record for best field goal percentage in a single season. 

Little finished her career at UTD by serving as captain for two last two years and earning Academic All-Conference honors her senior year.

Little graduated from UT Dallas with a bachelor’s in education and is pursuing her master’s degree.  She currently resides in Tyler.