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Mike McGuire Headshot

Mike McGuire

Mike McGuire has become a household name in the New River Valley thanks to his success on the court, his involvement in the community and his reputation as a man of great character. His time at Radford has been full of joyous moments and unforgettable seasons, leading his teams to four WNIT postseason appearances as well as an NCAA Tournament berth in 2019. He is currently ranked sixth for overall wins, seventh for tournament wins and fifth for conference wins in Big South Conference history.

McGuire owns the third-best winning percentage and second-most overall wins in program history with an overall record of 178-156 (.533). He has gone 123-81 (.603) in Big South play leading the Highlanders to two Big South regular season championships and one tournament championship. Opponents beware as the Highlanders have defended the Dedmon Center to the tune of a 92-42 record at home in the McGuire era. 

The 2024-25 season will mark his 12th year at the helm of the Radford women’s basketball program after taking the position on April 24, 2013. McGuire quickly laid a solid foundation when he arrived at Radford and has successfully seen his vision come to fruition. For the past seven seasons the Highlanders have been selected in the top-6 of the Big South preseason poll, including a three-year span being selected as No.1 (2017-2019).

McGuire has been recognized three times as the Big South Coach of the Year (2015, 2018, 2019), making him the first coach in program history to achieve the feat and fourth in Big South history to have three or more. He collected his 100th career Big South win, the first Highlander coach to do so in program history, during the 2020-21 campaign against Charleston Southern on February 20, 2021. Under his direction there have been 24 Highlanders named All-Big South including 2018 Defensive Player of the Year – Jayda Worthy, the 2018-19 tournament MVP Lydia Rivers and 2023 Freshman of the Year Ashlyn Traylor-Walker. The program has also excelled like never before in the classroom, earning an APR score of 1,000 across the last four years. Academically during McGuire’s tenure Radford has had 11 conference All-Academic selections with Jen Falconer named to the VaSID Academic All-State team after the 2018-19 season.

The Highlanders have a history of upsetting the powers of the women's basketball world and that trend has continued under McGuire. Over 11 seasons, Radford has topped the likes of Penn State, Virginia and Wake Forest. Victories over regional rivals such as Appalachian State, VCU, UNCG, Davidson, Liberty and others have also buoyed the Highlanders’ resume in recent years.

Under McGuire's direction, Radford has hit multiple milestones including its 700th win in program history on February 18, 2017, becoming the second program in Big South history to win 700 games. On February 25, 2023 Radford won its 800th game in program history becoming the only conference team to reach that mark.

Since the unfortunate ending of the 2019-20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the constantly changing landscape of college athletics, the women's basketball program has held steady. After back-to-back challenging seasons in 2020-21 and 2021-22, the Highlanders came back with a force in 2022-23 with a rejuvenated roster and coaching staff. After reaching the conference semifinals and coming up just short in overtime, the team regrouped for a 2023-24 run that saw Radford place within the conference's top-3 for the first time since 2019-20 and reach the conference's championship game for the first time since 2018-19.

In 2019-20 Highlanders were selected as No.1 in the coaches preseason poll to start the year. Radford got back on track after a tough nonconference slate including power-5 teams like Vanderbilt, West Virginia, Ohio State, and Alabama. Against Alabama, Khiana Johnson reached the career milestone of 1,000 points to become the fifth player to do so under the direction of McGuire. The Highlanders' battled their way to a Big South Tournament deciding victory on senior day vs. Hampton, to secure the would-be two-seed which came with tournament hosting rights. Radford finished the campaign 17-12 overall and 15-5 in conference, their sixth consecutive season with double-digit conference wins. The Highlanders formally received the 2020 WNIT bid for their fifth postseason bid in the last six seasons. The Highlanders won 12 of their final 14 games before the season was canceled due to COVID-19.

Radford put together one of the greatest campaigns in school history in 2018-19, going 26-6 overall and 17-1 in Big South play to clinch the regular season title and the top seed in the Big South Tournament. McGuire and the Highlanders would go on to win the Big South Championship and earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 23 years. Another impressive feat was the 2018-19 team earned a spot in the final College Insider Mid-Major Poll, coming in at 25th. During non-conference play, Radford took down Temple, VCU and Virginia for a full prep going into the Big South. It was then that the Highlanders really shined, going on an 18-game winning streak to close out the regular season and tear through postseason play. A 15-1 record inside the Dedmon Center treated fans to a near-perfect performance at home.

The 2017-18 season saw McGuire lead Radford to its second straight 24-9 mark, compiling a 48-18 record over the last two seasons, which ranks as the best two-year mark in program history. The Highlanders finished with a 15-3 clip in Big South play, the most wins in program history. Leading Radford to its third straight Big South Tournament semifinal appearance, McGuire and the Highlanders made back-to-back WNIT appearances as part of a stretch that saw the team make the WNIT in three of four years. The Highlanders defeated Big Ten foe Penn State, 63-62, in overtime for the third postseason win in program history.

Part of his first recruiting class at Radford, Janayla White and Jayda Worthy closed out their careers as two of the best to wear a Radford uniform. Worthy finished as the program’s all-time leader in games played (123), while scoring 1,263 points for sixth best and grabbing 771 rebounds for seventh best in Highlander history. White tallied 1,121 points for 18th in program history, while her 980 career rebounds rank third. Tied for ninth in Big South history, White blocked 209 shots to rank second in Radford history. Worthy became the fourth player in program history to earn Big South Defensive Player of the Year as the Highlanders finished with the fourth best scoring defense in the country. Radford ranked 18th nationally in three-point field goal percentage defense and 19th in field goal percentage defense.

Radford went 12-1 inside the Dedmon Center, holding a 28-1 mark since February 2016 as the Highlanders won 21 straight at one point, ranking as the third longest home streak in the country during the span.

In his fourth season after taking over the reins of the women’s program, McGuire put together one of the more memorable seasons in program history during the 2016-17 campaign. Dropping no more than two games in a row throughout the season, Radford concluded its magical 2016-17 season with a 24-9 record, finishing with the second most wins in program history. At the time, only the 1988-89 squad won more games compiling a 25-7 record. In Big South Conference play, Radford finished with a 14-4 record for the second-most conference wins in the team’s history, matching the record set during the 2014-15 season. Racking up the wins on the floor, Radford also racked up its first Big South Regular Season Championship in 25 years.

Developing the nickname “Cardiac Kids,” midway through the season, Radford played in nine games decided by three points or less with five coming in the last seven games of the season. The Highlanders compiled a 7-2 record in those games. Providing fans with suspenseful games all season long, Radford’s lockdown defense was a major part of the season’s success. The Highlander defense finished the season ranked inside the top-15 nationally in two defensive categories. Holding opponents to a mere 55.0 points per game, Radford ranked as the 10th best defense in the country. The Highlanders ranked 11th with a 35.1 field goal percentage defense.

Radford collected two three-point victories in the Big South Tournament, earning its first championship appearance since 2008. The Highlanders fell just short of earning its first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1996, dropping the championship game 49-48 to UNC Asheville. The Highlanders went on to make their second WNIT appearance under McGuire and the seventh postseason appearance in program history.

Despite a 2015-16 season ravaged by injuries, McGuire steered Radford to its most wins (18) since the 2007-08 season. The Highlanders, who tied for third in the Big South regular-season standings, advanced to the semifinals of the Big South tournament for the first time since 2013.

In just his second season at the helm (2014-15), McGuire guided the Highlanders to their third WNIT in school history. Radford, which finished with a 17-14 overall record, including a 14-6 Big South ledger, finished tied for second in the Big South regular-season standings. It was the Highlanders’ highest finish in the conference standings since 2010-11.

McGuire’s work did not go unnoticed as the conference’s 11 head coaches selected him Big South Coach of the Year, marking the sixth head coach in program history to earn the accolade. The Highlanders’ 10-win improvement from the 2013-14 season to the 2014-15 season was tied for the sixth-best turnaround in the nation.

Prior to his time at Radford, McGuire served as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Richmond. He helped lead the Spiders to WNIT appearances in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 and nearly guided the squad to an Atlantic 10 title in 2009. He was also a member of the Roanoke College men’s basketball coaching staff in 2001-02.

His experience in the high school basketball ranks is extensive as well. McGuire spent time as the William Byrd High School girls’ basketball head coach from 2002-06 before heading to Hidden Valley High School to assume the same role. It was there that he made a name for himself, leading his teams to VHSL Group AA State Championships in 2007 and 2008. He was named Coach of the Year both years.

McGuire is happily married to his wife, Nataleigh. The couple has three beautiful daughters named Harper, Ellie, and Reese. The trio have already proven to be some of Radford’s biggest fans!

Follow Coach McGuire on Twitter: @coachmcguire.
 
Year School Record Conference Home Postseason
2013-14 Radford 7-23 5-15 (T10) 4-10 --
2014-15 Radford 17-14 14-6 (T2) 10-5 WNIT First Round
2015-16 Radford 18-13 13-7 (T3) 11-3 --
2016-17 Radford 24-9 14-4 (T1) 13-0 WNIT First Round
2017-18 Radford 24-9 15-3 (2) 12-1 WNIT Second Round
2018-19 Radford 26-7 17-1 (1) 15-1 NCAA First Round
2019-20 Radford 17-12 15-5 (2) 7-5 WNIT bid* (no postseason due to COVID-19)
2020-21 Radford 9-11 9-9 (6) 5-5 --
2021-22 Radford 7-23 3-15 (T10) 5-8 --
2022-23 Radford 14-17 9-9 (4) 10-4 --
2023-24 Radford 15-18 9-7 (3) 8-5 --
Totals 178-156 123-81 100-47 5 Postseason Berths

Mike McGuire at a Glance

Personal

Full Name: Michael Anthony McGuire

Wife: Nataleigh

Daughters: Harper, Ellie, Reese

Hometown: Vinton, Va.

Born: March 18

Education

  • College: Roanoke College (B.S. in Health and Human Performance, 2000)
  • High School: William Byrd H.S. (1995 graduate)

Coaching Timeline (17 years)

2001-02  Roanoke College Men's Basketball Assistant Coach
2002-06 William Byrd H.S. Girls' Basketball Head Coach
2006-08 Hidden Valley H.S. Girls' Basketball Head Coach
VHSL Group AA State Champions: 2007, 2008
VHSL Group AA State Coach of the Year: 2007, 2008
Coached 2008 VHSL Group AA State Co-Player of the Year
2008-13 University of Richmond Women's Basketball Assistant Coach
Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament Runner-Up: 2009
WNIT Appearances: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
Coached Atlantic 10 Conference Sixth Player of the Year
2013-present Radford University Women's Basketball Head Coach
Big South Regular Season Championship: 2016-17, 2018-19
Big South Tournament Championship: 2018-19
Big South Coach of the Year: 2015, 2018, 2019
NCAA Appearances: 2019
WNIT Appearances: 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020*

* - 2019-20 postseason not played due to COVID-19


Noteworthy Accomplishments Under McGuire at Radford

  • Notable victories: Appalachian State (2014-15), George Mason (2015-16), Davidson (2015-16), Wake Forest (2016-17), Penn State (2017-18), Virginia (2018-19), and VCU (2017-18, 2018-19)
  • Big South All-Freshman Team Honorees: 6
  • Big South Player(s) of the Week: 25
  • Big South Rookie / Freshman of the Week: 17
  • Most overall wins and conference wins among active Big South coaches (as of 2024)
  • One of just six coaches in Big South history to achieve 100 in-conference victories
  • Program-record 17 Big South wins in 2018-19
  • Radford finished the 2015-16 season ranked fifth in the nation in field-goal percentage defense (.333), 14th in scoring defense (53.3) and 16th in blocks per game (5.6) 
  • Radford finished the 2016-17 season ranked as the 10th best scoring defense in the nation (55.0) and 11th in field-goal percentage defense (.351)
  • Radford finished the 2017-18 season ranked as the fourth best scoring defense in the nation (52.9) and 18th three-point field-goal percentage defense (.276) and 19th in field-goal percentage defense (.360)
  • The Highlanders earned the 25th spot in the College Insider Mid-Major Poll at the end of the 2018-19 season 
  • Radford finished in the top-5 nationally in scoring defense for the second time in three seasons, 2015-16 and 2017-18
  • Education Day home game initiative has grown in attendance from 700 students to over 2,500

Player Accolades Under McGuire at Radford

  • 1 Big South Tournament MVP (Lydia Rivers, 2019)
  • 1 Big South Defensive Player of the Year (Jayda Worthy, 2018)
  • 1 Big South Freshman of the Year (Ashlyn Traylor-Walker, 2023)
  • 1 VaSID Freshman of the Year (Ashlyn Traylor-Walker, 2023)
  • 5 VaSID All-State Members (Janayla White 2016 | Destinee Walker 2017 | Jayda Worthy 2018 | Destinee Walker 2019 | Ashlyn Traylor-Walker 2023)
  • 20 Big South All-Conference Members (Ayana Avery 2014 and 2015 | Janayla White 2016, 2017 and 2018 | Aisha Foy 2015 and 2016 | Destinee Walker 2017, 2018 and 2019 | Jayda Worthy 2017 and 2018 | Lydia Rivers 2019 | Sydney Nunley 2019 and 2020 | Khiana Johnson 2019 and 2020 | Ashlyn Traylor Walker 2023 and 2024 | Taniya Hanner 2024)
  • 7 Big South All-Tournament Members (Janyla White 2017 | Destinee Walker 2017 and 2019 | Lydia Rivers 2019 | Ashlyn Traylor-Walker 2023 and 2024 | Joi Williams 2024)
  • 11 Big South All-Academic (Kiera McIvor 2014 and 2015 | Rachael Ross 2016 and 2017 | Jen Falconer 2018, 2019 and 2020 | Tina Lindenfeld 2021 | Bridget Birkhead 2022 | Vanessa Blake 2023 | Olivia Wagner 2024)