Hall of Fame

Sara Lee

  • Class
    1986
  • Induction
    2016
  • Sport(s)



Sara Lee was a four-year letter winner in volleyball, basketball and softball at Minnesota State University Moorhead from 1982-86.  In volleyball, Lee earned all-conference and all-district recognition as a setter her junior and senior years and was twice named as her team’s most valuable player. She earned the MSUM Palmer Volleyball Award as a senior.

Her senior year, Lee served as a basketball captain and was an all-district selection in softball.
Lee’s honors as an undergraduate include the NAIA Scholarship which is awarded annually by NAIA athletic directors. Lee was also honored as the recipient of the MSU Moorhead Most Outstanding Student-Athlete Award her senior year.  She was inducted into the MSUM Hall of Fame in 1995.

Lee earned her B.S. in physical education from MSU Moorhead in 1986 and went on to begin her coaching career at Lake Erie College.  In 1989 she moved to Denison University (Ohio) where she was the head volleyball coach for 18 seasons and women’s basketball coach, a position she still holds today.  Lee enters her 28th season as Denison head women’s basketball coach and her sixth year as the department’s Associate Athletic Director.  Lee boasts a career record of 428-281 (.604) in 27 seasons at Denison where she has led her squad to seven NCAA tournaments and 10 conference titles.  Entering the 2015-16 season she ranked 29th in victories among active Division III coaches.  She is one of just 50 coaches in Division III history to reach the 400-win milestone. In addition to her coaching and administrative duties, Lee holds the title of Professor at Denison University.