Melanie Day was named head coach of the Southern Virginia University women's basketball team in July 2026. She has a rich history in the world of basketball as a player and coach, both at the highest level of college basketball. Most recently, she coached at Skyridge High School in Utah, spending time as an assistant girls basketball coach and bantam director. She also coached club teams, youth bantam teams, ran clinics, and trained athletes individually as well as in small group settings.
Coaching Experience
- Assistant Coach, Bantam Director - Skyridge High School (2025-2026)
- Youth Coach / Trainer (2022-2026)
- Assistant Coach - BYU (2019-2022)
- Assistant Coach - UNLV (2004-2007)
Playing Career
- BYU (2001-2002) - 3rd Team All-Mountain West, 2002 Sweet 16
- UCLA (1996-1999) - Two 20-win seasons, averaged 9.4 ppg, 1998 PAC-10 title, 1999 Elite 8
- Multiple high school state championships in California
Notably, Coach Day was an assistant coach for BYU women's basketball, helping the team to its most wins in program history with 26 in 2022, including a second straight NCAA tournament appearance. In the same season, they became WCC regular season champions, spent 16 consecutive weeks in the AP Top 25, and finished No. 20 in the final national poll. Prior to BYU, she was an assistant for three years at UNLV, helping the Rebels to a pair of winning seasons and two wins over nationally ranked opponents. As a player, Day was a standout at UCLA, averaging nearly ten points per game while helping the team to a PAC-10 title in 1998, and an Elite 8 appearance in 1999.
After serving as a full-time missionary in Lisboa, Portugal, Day transferred to BYU and helped the Cougars to one of their best seasons. She averaged double figures in points and earned Mountain West all-conference honors as the team made it all the way to the Sweet 16.
In 2003, she received a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University. She and her husband, Preston, have three children, Alli, Marley, and Fletcher.
