HIGH POINT, N.C. – High Point University President Dr. Nido R. Qubein and Vice President and Athletic Director Dan Hauser are pleased to announce a contract extension for HPU Women's Basketball Head Coach Chelsea Banbury.
 
"We are grateful for Coach Banbury's leadership and excited to renew her contract," President Qubein said. "Chelsea leads a great basketball program and shares our university's values."
 
Banbury was named the fifth Division I head coach of High Point University women's basketball team in June 2019. Since then, Banbury has led the Panthers to the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 2021, a Big South Conference Tournament Championship and three regular-season titles.
 
"I want to thank President Qubein for the opportunity to continue to lead the High Point University women's basketball team," Banbury said. "His continued support over the last six years has meant so much to me and my family. My time here has truly been special, and I look forward to the future of our program and working with President Qubein."
 
Amid her sixth season coaching the High Point Panthers, Banbury clinched the program's third Big South Regular-Season Championship in five years. With the No. 1 seed heading into the Big South Championship this weekend, the Panthers finished the regular season with a 18-11 overall record, and a 13-3 record in the Big South. In December, High Point secured its first Power 5 win under Banbury as the Panthers defeated the University of Central Florida, 64-60, in Orlando. With the win in Orlando, HPU became the second team in Big South history to take down a Big 12 opponent.
 
On January 8, Banbury earned her 100th career win as the head coach of the Panthers with a 78-51 victory over Charleston Southern in the Qubein Center. Banbury was the fastest coach in the HPU Division I era to reach 100 wins and the third fastest in Big South history.
 
Since the conclusion of the 2024-2025 regular season, four Panthers were listed to All-Conference teams. Nevaeh Zavala was tabbed with Big South First Team honors as Nakyah Terrell and Jaleesa Lawrence were listed to the Big South Second Team. Freshman guard Dom Nesland earned a spot on the All-Freshman team, and Lawrence was also placed on the All-Academic team for her performance in the classroom.
 
In her fifth season as the head coach of the Panthers, Banbury led her team to a 20-12 overall record and a 14-2 record in the Big South as they took home the regular-season title. Banbury was named the 2024 Big South Coach of the Year.
 
Prior to the season, Banbury was named one of 20 members listed to the 2024 Kathy Delaney-Smith Mid-Major Coach of the Year Award presented by Her Hoop Stats. The Panthers earned a spot in the inaugural WBIT Tournament as they drew a match up with No. 4 Virginia in the first round. Banbury produced a winning team once again in her fifth season as the Panthers continued to dominate in conference play. Three Panthers earned All-Conference awards as Lauren Bevis was tabbed with Big South Player of the Year. Terrell was named to the Big South Second Team, while Callie Scheier was tabbed with Big South All-Academic Team. 

Banbury, in her fourth season, led the Panthers to a 17-15 overall record with a 13-5 record in the Big South. The Panthers clinched their spot in the WNIT as they faced Clemson. Banbury continued to bring the three-point style offense to the court with the Panthers finishing on top of the three-point category in the Big South, averaging 7.8 made threes a game. Skyler Curran continued to shine under Banbury's management finishing top three in points scored in the Big South Conference. 

Banbury helped the Panthers to a 15-14 overall record and a 13-5 conference record in her third year at High Point. Banbury coached a defensive team as HPU was first in the Big South Conference in defensive rebounds at 824, averaging 26.6 a game. Jenson Edwards led the team with 197 defensive rebounds, landing her second in the conference.

In her second season leading the Panthers, High Point won its third overall Big South Regular Season Championship and won the Big South Tournament for the first time in program history to earn the team's first berth in the NCAA Tournament. Banbury once again produced the Big South Player of the Year as Skyler Curran won the award in 2021 after Camryn Brown was honored the previous season. She was named the Big South Coach of the Year after winning both championships in 2021. She had 32 wins after 50 games coached at HPU for the most wins in a head coach's first 50 games in High Point's Division I history. Once again, Banbury utilized her three-point style of offense to lead the Panthers to finishing top three in the nation in three-point field goals made and attempted.

In her first season, Banbury produced High Point's fourth Big South Player of the Year, Camryn Brown. Banbury brought the three-point style of offense with her from Florida Gulf Coast University. The Panthers finished in the top three in the nation in three-point field goals made and attempted as they set the program records for both with 305 makes in 917 attempts. Unfortunately, Banbury was unable to take her girls to the Big South Championships as the tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In six seasons, Banbury has accomplished a lot with the High Point Panthers. She has produced three Big South Player of the Years, 18 All-Conference nominees, 11 Preseason All-Conference nominees and has been named Big South Coach of the Year twice.