In 2015, Tiesha "Ty" Grace was named Howard University women's basketball head coach. Since her arrival to The Mecca, she has turned the program into one of the conference's elite.
During the 2024-25 season, the Bison posted a 22-12 mark (12-2 MEAC) where they made the MEAC Title game for the fifth straight year and earned a berth to the Postseason WNIT. Howard advanced to the second round after earning its first WNIT win over Sienna inside The Burr. After the regular season, four Bison recieved All-MEAC Honors. Freshman standout Saniyah King was named MEAC Rookie of the Year. King and Destiny Howell earned HBCU BOXTOROW All-America Honors. Additionally, Grace signed a contract extension through 2027-28.
In 2023-24, Grace led Howard to its fourth consecutive MEAC Title game after going 10-4 in league play (15-16 overall). Along the way, four Bison received All-MEAC Honors. Freshman standout Tyanna Walker was selected MEAC Rookie of the Year and made the HBCU BOXTOROW All-America Team.
During the 2022-23 campaign, Howard went 16-14 (10-4 MEAC) and reached its third straight MEAC Title game. After the regular season, Grace saw four Bison earn All-MEAC Honors. Standout guard Destiny Howell was named MEAC Player of the Year and HBCU BOXTOROW Co-Player of the Year.
In the 2021-22 season, the Bison won their first MEAC Tournament Title since 2001; thus, securing a berth to the NCAA Tournament. Grace was named Tournament Most Outstanding Coach. In the inaugural First Four Round, Howard defeated Incarnate Word and earned the program's first NCAA Tournament victory. Destiny Howell (All-MEAC), Anzhane' Hutton (All-MEAC, All-Defensive) and Iyanna Warren (All-MEAC) each grabbed conference postseason honors.
On Nov. 22, 2021, the Bison defeated Saint Peter’s and secured Coach Grace her 150th career victory. On Feb. 26, 2022, Grace earned her 100th victory as Howard women’s basketball head coach after edging out North Carolina Central inside Burr Gymnasium.
After the season, Grace was named to the 2022 Achieving Coaching Excellence College Basketball Coaching Honor Roll.
During the 2020-21 campaign, the Bison finished 15-4 overall and 10-2 in conference play taking home the Northern Division Title. Coach Grace team took home player of the year (Jayla Thornton), rookie of the year (Anzhane' Hutton). Also receiving honors Guard Iyanna Warren (All-MEAC), Kaiya Creek (All-Rookie), Hutton (All-MEAC, All-Defensive, All-Rookie), Thornton (All-MEAC). Additionally, she was named 2020-21 MEAC Coach of the Year, after leading her squad to a MEAC Northern Division Title and a trip to the MEAC tournament final.
During the 2019-20 campaign, the Bison went 16-15 overall while securing their third winning season in four years. Howard reached the MEAC Quarterfinals for the second consecutive year after defeating South Carolina State in the opening round. Guards Ayonna Williams (All-MEAC) and Jayla Thornton (All-MEAC) received league postseason honors.
In the 2018-19 season, Howard secured their second winning season in three years after finishing with an 18-13 record (10-6 MEAC). Along the way, Coach Grace saw four Bison earn conference postseason honors: Sarah Edmond (All-MEAC); Krislyn Marsh (All-Rookie); Jayla Thornton (All-MEAC) and Ayonna Williams (All-MEAC).
During the 2016-17 campaign, Grace led the Bison to a 16-13 overall record and an impressive 12-4 mark in the MEAC. Under Grace's direction, Howard earned the No. 2 seed in the 2017 MEAC Tournament, the highest during her tenure. Grace's coaching also led to her athletes being recognized by the conference. Howard had the 2017 Player of the Year and four All-MEAC selections on the squad due in part to her leadership.
In 2017, she participated in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Center for Coaching Excellence (CCE) Program.
Grace came to The Hilltop with impressive credentials, boasting nearly 20 years of coaching experience on every level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association along with a standout career in her days as a student-athlete.
A 1999 graduate of New Haven, Grace took over at Howard after spending two successful seasons as the head coach at her alma mater. Grace won over 73 percent of her games (44-16) and led the Chargers to a pair of NCAA Division II Tournament appearances. In 2014-15, New Haven posted the fourth-most victories in school history (26), set a school record with 16 Northeast-10 Conference wins and made its first trip to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in nearly three decades after defeating 13th-ranked Stonehill College to win the East Region Championship.
Prior to New Haven, Grace spent seven combined seasons as a Division I assistant coach at Seton Hall University & the United States Military Academy. She served as the top assistant & recruiting coordinator at Big East Conference member Seton Hall from 2009-13, helping bring a pair of McDonald's All-Americans and a 25th ranked recruiting class to South Orange, New Jersey. Grace also helped develop an All-Big East Rookie Team member and two Second Team All-Big East selections for the Pirates. She spent most of her time at SHU coaching alongside Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, Olympic Gold Medalist and current Connecticut Sun Head Coach Anne Donovan.
During Grace's three-year stint at Army (2006-09), the Black Knights recorded a then-program-best 24 victories in the 2006-07 campaign, including a record 12-game winning streak, and featured a Patriot League Player of the Year, two Rookies of the Year and a Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Grace earned her first head coaching experience at Division III Ramapo College of New Jersey from 2004-06 and served as a Division I assistant at Fairleigh Dickinson University from 1999-2004. She began her formal coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Hartford from 1998-99.
A 2010 inductee into the New Haven Athletics Hall of Fame, Grace is one of only two Chargers to record 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds for her career, totaling 1,347 points and 1,047 boards with 47 double-doubles from 1994-98.
In the 2004 summer, Coach Grace took part in the Achieving Coaching Excellence (ACE) program.
A native of Roosevelt, New York, Grace graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in the Management of Sports Industries from New Haven in 1999 and a Master's of Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson in 2001. Grace has one son, Kalen.
COLLEGE COACHING EXPERIENCE
Head Coach, Howard University (2015-Present)
Head Coach, University of New Haven (2013-15)
Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Seton Hall University (2009-13)
Assistant Coach, U.S. Military Academy (2006-09)
Head Coach, Ramapo College of New Jersey (2004-06)
Assistant Coach, Fairleigh Dickinson University (1999-04)
Graduate Assistant Coach, University of Hartford (1998-99)
