Sahar Nusseibeh was named as the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Eastern Michigan University on March 27, 2024. A rising star with five seasons of experience as a Division I head coach, Nusseibeh (pronounced noo-SAY-beh) arrived in Ypsilanti with an extensive coaching resume which includes a pair of stops as an assistant coach within the Mid-American Conference. She is entering her third season at the helm of the program in the 2026-27 athletic year.

Nusseibeh led the Eagles to a bounce-back campaign in 2025-26, improving by 11 wins from 2024-25, as Eastern was one of the five most improved teams nationally by number of wins with its 13-16 (6-12 MAC) mark. The 11-win improvement matched the program's largest since it also improved by 11 wins in 2009-10.

Nusseibeh also oversaw the development of All-MAC honorees Sisi Eleko and Peyton Hill. Eleko was tabbed All-MAC Second Team for the second consecutive season while Hill was named MAC Freshman of the Year, All-MAC Honorable Mention, and earned a spot on the conference’s all-freshmen team.

Eleko led the conference in rebounds per game (9.9) and set an EMU single-season record with a MAC-best 17 double-doubles, while ranking second in points per game (17.6). Eleko tied the career program record with 31 double-doubles as she concluded her EMU tenure with the highest rebounds per game average (10.0), highest defensive rebounds per game mark (7.4), and ranks fourth in career points per game (17.7). Nusseibeh mentored Eleko throughout her collegiate tenure, where she scored over 1,500 points (1,735), ranking inside the top 35 among active student-athletes, and grabbed 1,053 rebounds, the 12th most as of March 2026.

Hill’s freshman of the year award marked EMU’s first since the 2013-14 season in a year which she paced MAC freshmen in points per game with 14.6 (ninth in the MAC), free-throw percentage (81.9%, sixth in the conference), and minutes per game (33.8, seventh in the MAC). She also led the league's rookies with 22 double-digit scoring games and seven games with 20-plus points.

Additionally, Eastern set a program record with a 74.9% (359-of-479) rate at the free-throw line and earned a signature non-conference victory over a nationally ranked mid-major opponent, Arkansas State, 76-73, Feb. 7. The Red Wolves entered the contest ranked sixth nationally among mid major programs and finished the season ranked 17th.

The 2024-25 campaign was highlighted by Eleko, who earned All-MAC Second Team honors after leading the conference in double-doubles with 14 while also pacing the MAC in rebounds per game (10.1), and ranking second with 17.9 points per game. Additionally, Eleko was the only MAC player to average a double-double.

Eleko also earned MAC Player of the Week recognition, Dec. 3, after averaging 27 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while leading the Eagles’ to their first win in the Nusseibeh era, a 72-60 victory over Xavier University, Dec. 1.

On the national level, Eleko finished the regular season ranked 21st in the NCAA in defensive rebounds per game (7.3), 23rd in rebounds per game (10.1), 26th in double-doubles (14), and 45th in total rebounds (283). With those numbers, she ranks 23rd in rebounds per game (8.81) for a career among active players in the NCAA while ranking 29th in double-doubles with 34. She also is one of only 167 players to have scored 1,000 points and pulled down 600 rebounds in a career that is currently playing.

Eleko finished her first season in Ypsilanti with 500 points and 283 rebounds, both of which held historical significance. Her 500 points made her just the 13th player in program history to score 500+ points in a season while making her the fifth to do so in her junior campaign. Additionally, the 283 rebounds ranked third on the program's single-season list with only Felicia Hines (1984-85) and Suzanne Huff (1980-81) posting more with 292 and 286, respectively. Her season averages of 17.9 points and 10.1 rebounds made her just the third player to average a double-double in a season for the Eagles.

The junior also ranked sixth in MAC in minutes per game, averaging an even 34, while Olivia Smith slotted 10th in the category with 33.2. Other notables included Olivia Westphal ranking seventh in the league with an average of 2.1 three-point field goals, and Smith placing 17th in the stat with 1.5 per game. Westphal also slotted 16th in three-point field goal percentage, shooting 35.5% on the year and ranked 15th in the MAC with 0.6 blocked shots per game.

The ninth full-time head coach in program history, Nusseibeh had been the head coach for the past three seasons at Canisius University in Buffalo, N.Y. The Uniontown, Ohio, native has helped resurrect a program that won a combined five games in the two seasons prior to her arrival to a 17-victory campaign in 2023-24. The Golden Griffins’ 17 wins were the most since the 2008-09 season and it marked the school’s first season with double-digit wins since 2018-19.

Nusseibeh is the first active head coach to be hired at Eastern Michigan since Suzy Merchant in 1998. Merchant was the head coach at Saginaw Valley State University (1995-97) before taking over the EMU program and leading it to its first MAC Tournament Championship in 2004.

A long-time assistant coach with 12 years of Division I coaching experience, Nusseibeh took over the Canisius program after spending time as an assistant coach at the College of the Holy Cross (2011-13), Bowling Green State University (2013-16), Manhattan College (2016-19), and Miami University (2019-21).

One of the top young coaches in the country, Nusseibeh was named in 2016 to the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s (WBCA) inaugural “Thirty Under 30” list, which recognizes the top 30 up-and-coming coaches 30 years old-or-younger at all levels of the game. A graduate of the NCAA’s Women Coaches Academy, she has also participated in the WBCA’s Center for Coaching Excellence.

The 2023-24 season at Canisius was a historic one for the program, as the Blue and Gold finished with 17 wins. Canisius’ 11 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) wins also were the most since the 2008-09 campaign when CU won 14 games during conference play and advanced to the WNIT. The Griffs lead the MAAC in three-point field goal percentage at .338 (229-of-677), ranked second in defensive rebounds per game (11.4), and tied the program record for three-pointers made in a game with 15 at Binghamton (Dec. 8). As a team, the Griffs finished fifth after being picked ninth in the MAAC Preseason Poll.

From Nov. 30 through Dec. 21, Nusseibeh coached the Griffs to five consecutive road wins, marking the first five-game winning streak for Canisius since the 2015-16 season and five-game road winning streak since the 2008-09 campaign.

In the postseason, Nusseibeh led the Blue and Gold to a 58-55 win over Manhattan, advancing the team to the semifinal round of the MAAC Championship for the first time since the 2008-09 campaign. She also helped the Griffs earn a pair of postseason awards as guard Athina Lexa was tabbed the Sixth Player of the Year, becoming the second Canisius player to ever earn the honor, while forward Sisi Eleko was named a unanimous All-MAAC First Team selection and selected for the All-MAAC Championship Team.

Individually, Eleko set the program record for rebounds by a sophomore and ranked second all-time for rebounds in a single season with 328. Eleko led the MAAC in both points-per-game (15.9) and rebounds-per-game (10.6). Lexa, meanwhile, ranked top-15 in the MAAC for both points-per-game (11.7) and total points (362).

During her second season at the helm, Nusseibeh helped Canisius earn two all-conference accolades as Dani Haskell was named to the All-MAAC Third Team and Sisi Eleko was tabbed to the All-MAAC Rookie Team. The 2022-23 season saw the Griffs finish the season ranked second in the MAAC and 84th nationally for free-throw percentage at 73.9 percent. The Blue and Gold also saw their overall and conference win total increase by three compared to the 2021-22 season.

Individually, Eleko finished the season with 96 field goals made, which is the fifth most all-time by a freshman in program history. The Montreal, Quebec, native also made 53 free throws, tying her with Rachel Decker for the fifth-most made free throws in a season by a freshman.

In her first season at Canisius, Nusseibeh led the squad to a MAAC opening-round win, becoming the first No. 11 seed to win a game in the tournament’s history. Two Golden Griffins also received all-conference accolades as sophomore Dani Haskell was named an All-MAAC Third Team honoree and freshman Athina Lexa was a unanimous selection to the All-MAAC Rookie Team.

The 2021-22 campaign saw the Griffs set a program record for three-pointers made in a contest with 15 in an 81-78 win versus Siena on Jan. 29, 2022. The team was also one three-pointer shy of tying the program record for three-pointers made, set during the 2008-09 season (252). Canisius also led the MAAC and ranked 28th in the nation with its 251 three-point field goals made.

Individually, freshman Rhay Porter’s 43 blocks were the most by a Canisius freshman in the Division I era.

As the defensive coordinator at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, Nusseibeh was responsible for developing and implementing all aspects of team and individual defensive concepts. She also worked on game planning the team’s defensive strategies and was in charge of all defensive play calls and in-game adjustments during timeouts and in-game action.

During her tenure three Miami players received all-conference honors as Lauren Dickerson was named All-MAC Second Team, Savannah Kluesner was named All-MAC Third Team and Peyton Scott was named MAC All-Freshman Team. Dickerson became Miami’s all-time leading scorer in addition to breaking five other Miami career records and one single-season record. Kluesner broke the program record for single-season double-doubles (14) and Miami’s single-game block record (7).

Prior to joining the RedHawks’ staff, she spent three seasons (2016-19) as the associate head coach, recruiting coordinator, and defensive coordinator at Manhattan College in Riverdale, N.Y.

During her time at Manhattan, Nusseibeh played a key role in recruiting and coaching five All-MAAC selections, two MAAC All-Rookie Team honorees, and the 2019 MAAC Women’s Defensive Player of the Year. Nusseibeh led the Jaspers’ defensive efforts which saw Manhattan rank among the top five in the MAAC in scoring defense, blocked shots, and turnovers forced in three straight seasons. In her final year at Manhattan, the Jaspers ranked 17th nationally in scoring defense (56.3 points per game allowed), while also placing in the top 100 nationally in field goal percentage defense (75th), steals per game (76th), blocked shots per game (63rd) and turnovers forced (79th).

Nusseibeh was a part of the Bowling Green coaching staff for three seasons (2013-16) and helped lead the Falcons to a 2013-14 Mid-American Conference regular-season crown after the team went 30-5 overall and 17-1 in league play. She recruited and coached five All-MAC honorees, including an All-America selection, and she played a key role in helping Bowling Green earn three-straight WBCA Top-25 Team Academic Awards.

Nusseibeh came to BGSU after spending the previous two seasons at the College of the Holy Cross. She helped the Crusaders win a total of 37 games over those two years, and the team advanced to the championship game of the Patriot League Tournament both years. Among a myriad of duties, Nusseibeh was the team’s post coach and also was the program’s video coordinator.

In 2012-13, Holy Cross finished 18-14 overall. The fourth seed for the league tournament, the Crusaders advanced to the title game before falling to Navy.

The 2011-12 Crusaders had a 19-15 record, upsetting top-seeded American in the PL Tournament’s semifinal round. Holy Cross was invited to the Women’s Basketball Invitational (WBI) and posted a first-round win in that national postseason tournament.

Prior to joining the Holy Cross program, Nusseibeh spent two seasons as a graduate assistant at the University of Cincinnati. While with the Bearcats, she coordinated video, served as the team’s post coach, and was the academic liaison between the players, academics department and coaches.

In addition, Nusseibeh served internships with both the Atlanta Dream (2007) and Washington Mystics (2009) of the WNBA. Additionally, she spent time in Colorado working with USA Basketball, helping prepare the U-19 and World University Games teams that competed in Thailand and Serbia, respectively.

She was among just 30 assistant college basketball coaches to take part in the U.S. Marine Corps Coaches Leadership Workshop in Quantico, Va. The three-day, invitation-only program is designed to teach small-unit leadership. She has also attended numerous other professional development events, including the 2017 BDS Agency Head Coaching Training Center, the “A Step Up” Assistant Coaching Symposium in Charlotte, N.C., and the Assistant Coaches Immersion Program in Denver, Colo.

Nusseibeh played four seasons at American University from 2005-09, and was named to the Patriot League All-Rookie Team in her initial season. She made 116 career appearances with 39 starts, helping the Eagles to the conference regular-season titles in both 2007-08 and 2008-09.

Off the court, Nusseibeh served as the president of the school’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) during her senior season and was a women’s basketball team representative to that committee throughout her undergraduate career. She also participated in the WBCA’s “So You Want to Be a Coach” program.

The 37-year old Nusseibeh attended Hoover High School in North Canton, Ohio, playing basketball for the storied Vikings program.

She graduated cum laude from AU in 2009, earning her bachelor’s degree in International Relations/International Business. She received her master’s degree in Business Administration from Cincinnati in May of 2011.

The Sahar Nusseibeh File
Name:	Sahar Nusseibeh
High School:	North Canton Hoover H.S. – Uniontown, Ohio
College:	American University - Bachelor’s degree in International Relations/International Business - 2009
	University of Cincinnati - Master’s degree in Business Administration - 2011

Coaching/Playing Experience
Year	School/Company	Position - Record
2024-Pres.	Eastern Michigan University	Head Coach
2025-26	Eastern Michigan University	Head Coach - 13-16 (6-12 MAC)
2024-25	Eastern Michigan University	Head Coach - 2-27 (1-17 MAC)
2023-23	Canisius University	Head Coach - 17-14
2022-23	Canisius University	Head Coach - 9-21
2021-22	Canisius University	Head Coach - 6-25
2019-21	Miami University	Assistant Coach
2016-19	Manhattan College	Associate Head Coach
2013-16	Bowling Green State University	Assistant Coach
2011-13	College of the Holy Cross	Assistant Coach
2009-11	University of Cincinnati	Graduate Assistant Coach
2005-09	American University	Student-athlete

#	Name	Pos.	Ht.	Yr.	Hometown / High School	Previous School
0	Zoe Guice	S	5' 7''	Jr.	Westerville, Ohio / Westerville South	Clarion
1	Alli Zajac	M/W	6' 2''	So.	Tecumseh, Mich. / Tecumseh
2	Ruby Brannon	S/W	5' 8''	Sr.	Woonona, NSW, Australia / St. Mary Star of the Sea	East Central C.C.
3	Ni'Rah Clark	M/F	6' 2''	Jr.	Toledo, Ohio / Rogers	Akron
4	Molly Sisson	M/F	6' 3''	Fr.	Rochester, Mass. / Northfield Mount Herman
5	Chey McEvans	Y/S	5' 9''	Gr.	Detroit, Mich. / Southfield A&T	Nevada
6	Fernanda Ovalle	Y/W	5' 10''	Sr.	Santiago, Chile / Montverde Academy	Xavier / Team Chile
11	Oliwia Pelka	W/Y	6' 0''	So.	Sosnowiec, Poland / Virtus Eirene Ragusa (Italy)
15	Believe Tshibangu	M/F	6' 0''	So.	Courtice, Ontario / Royal Crown School
19	Paula Balada	S/Y	5' 6''	So.	Barcelona, Spain / Institut Creu de Saba
23	Peyton Hill	Y	5' 10''	So.	St. Louis, Mo. / Incarnate Word Academy
24	Anna Habra	S/Y	5' 8''	Fr.	Mason, Ohio / William Mason
25	Sarah Rekowski	F	6' 3''	Jr.	Hartland, Mich. / Hartland	Western Michigan
33	Adrena Gordon	Y	5' 11''	Rf.	Akron, Ohio / Example Academy

Coaching Staff
Image	Name	Title	Email	Phone Number
	Sahar Nusseibeh	Head Coach	snusseib@emich.edu
	Shareese Ulis	Assistant Coach	smcbraye@emich.edu
	Emily Hays	Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator	ehays2@emich.edu
	Selana Ickes	Assistant Coach	sickes2@emich.edu
	Kayla Jackson	Assistant Coach	kjack143@emich.edu
	Alexis Mesuch	Director of Operations/Assistant Coach	amesuch@emich.edu

Support Staff
Image	Name	Title	Email	Phone Number
	Nicole Harshbarger	Associate Athletic Trainer	nharshb1@emich.edu	734.487.5179
	Nathan Huckle	Mental Performance Consultant
	Mitch McCartney	Media Relations Contact	mmccar33@emich.edu	734.487.0317

Eastern Michigan Athletics

2026-27 Women's Basketball Roster

Zoe Guice

Alli Zajac

Ruby Brannon

Ni'Rah Clark

Molly Sisson

Chey McEvans

Fernanda Ovalle

Oliwia Pelka

Believe Tshibangu

Paula Balada

Peyton Hill

Anna Habra

Sarah Rekowski

Adrena Gordon

Sahar Nusseibeh

Shareese Ulis

Emily Hays

Selana Ickes

Kayla Jackson

Alexis Mesuch

Nicole Harshbarger

Nathan Huckle

Mitch McCartney