LeAnn Freeland

Biography

A respected head coach with a proven track record of building championship-caliber programs, LeAnn Freeland was hired April 1, 2025, as the head women's basketball coach at Florida Atlantic University. The announcement was made by Vice President and Director of Athletics Brian White, who signed Freeland to a five-year contract following an impressive run leading nearby Nova Southeastern University. As NSU's head coach, she led the Sharks to the NCAA Tournament eight times, including four Elite Eight appearances and one Final Four, in her 13 seasons in Fort Lauderdale. As head coach at both NSU (2011-25) and previously University of Indianapolis (2007-11), Freeland has won 70 percent of her career games (363-159) with six conference championships, 11 NCAA Tournament appearances in 17 seasons, four Elite Eights and one Final Four (2014). She was named Coach of the Year in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC) in 2015, 2016 and 2024. "LeAnn is a winner in every sense of the word," said White, "She has won at every stop in her collegiate career whether it be as a head coach, an assistant coach or as a player. I am thrilled to welcome LeAnn and her husband John to Florida Atlantic and excited for the championship mindset she will bring to our women's basketball program. She built both Nova Southeastern and UIndy to powerful Division II programs, doing so with student-athletes that embodied her gritty, hard-working and tough playing style. I'm confident the future of FAU women's bask