The Howard Payne University athletic department on Thursday announced the hiring of Rodney Gee as head women’s basketball coach.

With 33 years of women’s basketball coaching experience and over 600 career coaching wins, Rodney Gee begins his new chapter as a collegiate head coach after a very successful high school career.

After one year in the business sector, Coach Gee spent the previous 14 seasons as the Head Girls Basketball Coach and Assistant Athletics Director at Lorena High School in Lorena, Texas.

“We are excited to bring Coach Gee to Howard Payne!” said Nathan Penland, Vice President for Student Experience. “His experience and passion will be invaluable as we look to continue building our women’s basketball program.”

At Lorena, Gee won seven District Championships (2011, 2012, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) along with several Bi-District (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), Area (2020, 2024), Regional Quarterfinals (2019, 2021, 2022), Regional Finals (2011), Regional Championship (2012), including the State Semi-Finals in 2012.

Coach Gee would spend one season as the Women’s Assistant Basketball coach at Cisco College from 1996-1997.

Coach Gee also has high school coaching stints in Texas at Eastland (1995-96, 1997-1998), Levelland (1992-95), and Westview Middle School (1991-1992) in Pflugerville, Texas

At Eastland, Coach Gee led the program to three District Championships (2002, 2005, 2006), ten Bi-District Championships (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2008, 2010), and six Area Championships (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008)

“I am so thankful for this opportunity to lead the women’s basketball program at Howard Payne University,” said Rodney Gee.  “I am deeply grateful to Dr. Cory Hines and Dr. Nate Penland for their belief in me and the vision we share for this program.  My family and I are excited to join the Howard Payne community.  I look forward to investing in these young women and implementing the core values of this great university in our basketball program.”

He has been named District Coach of the Year six times (2002, 2005, 2006, 2012, 2021, 2022) and the Centex Coach of the Year in 2012.

He has been honored as an All-Star game coach five times and was recognized as the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Class 3-A Dean Weese Outstanding Coach Award winner in 2011.

Serving as a leader in his field, Coach Gee has been the President of the Texas Girls Coaches Association, served as a member of the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) board, and is on the Texas Basketball Championships board.

Coach Gee holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas (1991).

Rodney is married to Rachelle, and they have three adult children, Alexa, Abbie, and Gage.