Official Release - April 7, 2026
ORLANDO - Newly appointed UCF women’s basketball head coach Gabe Lazo has announced another impactful addition to his coaching staff, bringing long time Power Four coach Bett Shelby to Orlando as an assistant.
The Charlotte, North Carolina, native has been one of the nation’s top recruiters as numerous Power Four programs. Shelby was an assistant at SMU, following first-year head coach Adia Barnes after a successful three years at Arizona.
"Coach Shelby has been one of the nation’s top recruiters and brings a wealth of Power Four experience to the staff," said Lazo. "I’ve gotten close with her during our recruiting endeavors over the years, first meeting her back during my time in Miami, and have grown to admire her as both a coach and a leader. She has developed multiple WNBA players throughout her career and boasts plenty of familiarity with the Big 12, she’ll be a crucial part of our project in Orlando."
During her time with the Wildcats, she helped develop a pair of WNBA draft picks in Helena Pueyo and Esmery Martinez. The former began her career with Shelby at West Virginia before each landed in Tucson.
Under head coach Mike Carey’s staff at West Virginia, Shelby played a marquee role as associate head coach during the final years of his tenure, aiding in the Mountaineers’ trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2020-21.
"After meeting Gabe years ago when he was a high school coach in Miami while I was recruiting his players, I've had the opportunity to watch him grow since then, and have seen first hand what an elite skill developer, recruiter and motivator he is," said Shelby. "His ability to connect with people and build meaningful relationships at the highest level is very unique. When he reached out to me about coming to Orlando, it was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. It’s the chance to build something special in the Big 12, and I cannot wait to get to work. We have similar philosophies in connecting with student-athletes to help them succeed on and off the court, and Gabe is ready for this moment. I’m grateful for this opportunity and am thrilled to get to work at UCF!"
Her coaching expertise also assisted in the development of West Virginia’s highest-ever draft pick, Kysre Gondrezick, who was selected with the fourth overall pick of the 2021 WNBA draft. Alongside Gondrezick, Tynice Martin was also drafted in the third round that year by the Los Angeles Sparks.
The second of her ACC stops came from 2018-19 at North Carolina, where she served as the recruiting coordinator on the Tar Heels’ first NCAA Tournament team in four seasons. Her development skills continued to shine, as Paris Keah was selected 25th overall in the 2019 WNBA draft.
Shleby’s first recruiting coordinator role at the Power Four level came during a three-season stint at Maryland from 2015-18. Signing a pair of top-five recruiting classes propelled the Terps to historic success during that time, as they claimed the Big Ten Regular Season and Tournament titles in 2015-16 and 2016-17.
A Sweet Sixteen run and a combined three wins in the NCAA Tournament over the two seasons elevated Shelby as one of the nation’s premier assists. Shelby coached a pair of top-10 draft picks in 2017, as Shatori Walker-Kimbrough was selected sixth overall by the Washington Mystics, just two picks before Brionna Jones was taken eighth overall by the Connecticut Sun.
During her first stop in the ACC, Shelby led the charge in signing a top-20 recruiting class for the Hokies during a pair of seasons in Blacksburg. While on staff at Seton Hall from 2011-13, the Pirates achieved a record for Big East wins.
Shelby’s early stops at Stetson, under current UCF assistant Lynn Bria’s staff, and at Tennessee Tech (2009-10) and Southern Illinois (2010-11), she consistently brought in the top mid-major recruiting classes.
Her first job at the collegiate level came from 2006-08 at East Carolina, where she served as director of operations in Greenville. Shelby’s playing career spanned four successful seasons, starting at UNC Wilmington before transferring to Greensboro where she led the Pride to a regular season and conference tournament title. She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in sports and exercise studies with a concentration in coaching in 2006.
SHELBY’S COACHING TIMELINE
|
YEARS |
SCHOOL |
ROLE |
SEASONS |
|
2006-08 |
East Carolina |
Director of Operations |
Two |
|
2008-09 |
Stetson |
Assistant Coach |
One |
|
2009-10 |
Tennessee Tech |
Assistant Coach/Recruiting Director |
One |
|
2010-11 |
Southern Illinois |
Assistant Coach/Recruiting Director |
One |
|
2011-13 |
Seton Hall |
Assistant Coach |
Two |
|
2013-15 |
Virginia Tech |
Assistant Coach |
Two |
|
2015-18 |
Maryland |
Assistant Coach/Recruiting Director |
Three |
|
2018-19 |
North Carolina |
Assistant Coach/Recruiting Director |
One |
|
2019-22 |
West Virginia |
Associate Head Coach |
Three |
|
2022-25 |
Arizona |
Assistant Coach |
Three |
|
2025-26 |
SMU |
Assistant Coach |
One |
|
2026-Pres. |
UCF |
Assistant Coach |
First |
QUICK HITS
- Brings 13 years of experience at the Power Four level at six different schools
- Has aided in the recruitment of 25 ESPN SportCenter Next 100 athletes, including 10 five stars
- Amassed seven NCAA Tournament appearances and four conference championships
- Aided in the development of eight WNBA players, including four top-10 picks