Drury hires new leader of women’s basketball program

Drury University has moved quickly to hire a new head women’s basketball coach.

The Springfield higher education institution yesterday announced Kaci Bailey was taking the position, according to a news release. She succeeds three-year leader Amy Eagan, who stepped down March 28 to become head coach at Lindenwood University.

Bailey since 2021 has served as head women's basketball coach of Quincy University in Illinois.

Nyla Milleson, Drury vice president and director of athletics, and Bailey are reuniting, according to the release. Both have past experience at George Mason University in Virginia.

"As a member of my coaching staff for four years at George Mason, I witnessed first-hand how Kaci relates to student-athletes, develops talent and gets the most out of players," Milleson said in the release. "She is an excellent recruiter and was valuable to me on sidelines during games. I appreciated how Kaci was a mentor to our players both on and off the court, and I know she will be a guiding force that will shape the lives of the young women here at Drury.

"I'm proud the have the opportunity to hire Kaci for a second time and bring her to the Lady Panthers program."

At Quincy, Bailey is credited with turning around a struggling team. She led them this season to their first postseason appearance in seven years after inheriting a team that won just two games during the 2020-21 season.

"Drury is a great program, and the opportunity to work with Nyla again was something I wanted to pursue," Bailey said in the release. "I am a big believer that you win with the people that are in your life and what better way to win than working with my former boss and a mentor like Nyla."

Bailey becomes the sixth head coach in the Drury women's basketball program's history.

In following Eagan, Bailey joins a team that had an 87-9 record over the former coach's three years at the helm, according to past reporting.