Agee named head women's basketball coach

SANBORN — A familiar face is taking over the reins of the SUNY Niagara women's basketball program.

Maleik Agee was named the 13th head women's basketball coach in program history, Interim Director of Athletics Bob McKeown announced Thursday. Agee now leads the Thunderwolves after he spent the last three years as an assistant coach for the men's and women's basketball programs concurrently.

"I am very excited to have Maleik Agee taking over our Women's Basketball program," McKeown said. "Maleik is an alum of SUNY Niagara and brings years of experience and basketball knowledge to the position."

Since joining the Thunderwolves, Agee has been a trusted voice in the locker room and on the staffs of men's basketball coach Bill Beilein and women's basketball coach Nate Beutel. On the sidelines, Agee was part of recent stretches of success in both programs.

Since Agee's arrival, SUNY Niagara's women's basketball team posted an 83-13 record, won three of its seven consecutive NJCAA Region III Div. II championships, two East District titles and two NJCAA National Tournament appearances. Agee coached a NJCAA All-American and Region III Div. II Player of the Year in the same season twice in Aichata Ballo (2023) and Faith Alessandra (2024) and 14 total all-region selections.

On the men's side, Agee and the Thunderwolves went 75-23, won two NJCAA Region III Div. II titles, two East District titles and punched its ticket to the NJCAA National Tournament twice in three years. Agee coached two NJCAA All-American selections and Div. II All-Region Players of the Year in Lamar Lovelace (2023) and Jamyier Patton (2025) and nine total all-region selections.

Before joining SUNY Niagara, Agee spent seven years coaching in the Western New York region. Agee was a key figure on the Western New York AAU scene with 716 United in Niagara Falls.

Along with coaching in leagues and tournaments in Western New York, Agee coached with the nationally recognized Atlanta Celtics AAU team. 

A former two-sport athlete at Niagara Falls High School, Agee earned his associate's degree in sports management from SUNY Niagara in 2024. Agee currently resides in Niagara Falls.

The 2025-26 schedule for SUNY Niagara women's basketball will be announced at a future date.