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Tom Jessee has served as the head coach for the University of Tampa women's basketball program for a total of 21 seasons. Jessee has guided his team to NCAA tournament appearances in four consecutive seasons, becoming the first coach in UT history to guide his squad to the NCAA national quarterfinals.

Jessee has 30 years under his belt as a collegiate head coach, with nine of those seasons spent at his alma mater Bluefield State (W.V.) University, where he compiled a 170-89 mark.

He has also moved near the top of the NCAA all-time record book (through 2019) as his .678 winning percentage ranks No. 23 among active coaches (minimum five years) and No. 46 all-time (minimum 10 years). His 605 career wins are good for No. 13 on the active coaches list and No. 24 all-time.

At UT, Jessee has led the Spartans to 13 of the program's 15 NCAA tournaments and seven Sunshine State Conference tournament championships. His 2003, 2006-11, 2014, and 2018-23 squads all received bids to the NCAA tourney, and all but one of UT’s SSC tournament crowns have been during the Jessee era, coming in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2021 and 2022.

His 435-177 record at Tampa gives him the program's top overall winning percentage at .711 as he is also the program's all-time winningest coach. He was also the fastest coach in UT women's basketball history to 100 victories and led his 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, and 2010-11 teams to six straight 20-plus win seasons for the first time in program history.

In 2022-23, Jessee led his Spartans to a school-record 33 victories while winning the program's first-ever NCAA South Regional. His team also captured its fourth straight SSC championship and dominated NCAA South Region play while defeating its three opponents by a combined total of 63 points. Jessee coached a pair of first-team all-SSC performers in Sydney Kin and Melijah Sullivan. Kin, a first-team All-American, would also finish as the national leader in field goal percentage.

Among the players Jessee has coached include Sheena Walton, who became the first player in UT history to garner second-team All-American honors (Daktronics). Walton also joined Crystal Ashley as the only Spartans to be three-time first-team All-SSC selections. He also coached first-team All-SSC selections Jessie McDowell (2003), Yushanda Morse (2004), and Gianna Messina (2009). Under his guidance, Hailee Sullivan was the first player in program history to be named to the NCAA South Regional all-tournament team in 2009. 2019-20 was a historic season for Dori Nagy who earned SSC player of the year, South Region player of the year, and All-American honors under Jessee.

Jessee enjoyed instant success in his first season, inheriting a Spartan team that finished 16-12 the previous year and guided it to a 23-8 record, the SSC regular-season championship, and an NCAA II Tournament bid. Jessee was named Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year for his efforts as the Spartans advanced to the semifinal round of the NCAA Division II South Regional, winning the program’s first NCAA tournament game with a 62-55 victory over Florida Southern.

His success reached new heights for the program during the 2008-09 season when his team set a new program mark for wins in a season with 26. The squad captured a share of the regular-season conference title and garnered the highest national ranking in team history – 19th. Jessee also led the team to a school-record 13 consecutive wins, three of which came as Tampa won the SSC tournament title. The team also secured the program’s second NCAA tournament victory.

In 2009-10, he was at the helm for a record-setting 26 victory campaign where the team was ranked in the WBCA national top-25 for the entire season. The Spartans also achieved the highest ranking in program history, rising to the No. 12 spot. His team ultimately advanced to the NCAA South Regional semifinals, where it suffered a 69-68 setback to No. 4 Arkansas Tech on its home court.

The 2013-14 season was also one for the record books at UT as his squad won the SSC regular-season championship while winning a record 14 league games. His squad had five victories over nationally-ranked opponents, including two in the top-10. He guided his squad to the NCAA South Region championship for the first time in program history. He was also honored as the SSC Coach of the Year for his success.

The 2015-16 season saw the Spartans win the Sunshine State Conference tournament as they entered the tournament as the five seed. They defeated Barry, Nova Southeastern, and Florida Tech to claim the championship. UT also advanced to the NCAA South Regional Tournament as they upset the top-seed Union University in the opening round. 

2018-19 was another successful season for Tampa. The Spartans went 22-9 on the season and reached the NCAA Tournament. The Spartans defeated Lee 72-63 of the South Regional before falling to #17 Florida Southern 76-65 in the round of 32. The Spartans were exceptional in the Sunshine State Conference earning a 15-5 record. Tampa went undefeated in February ending the regular season on a strong note. Standouts for the 2019 season were Staja Tyghter and Dori Nagy who both earned first-team All-SSC honors.

The 2019-20 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Spartans had a historic campaign with a 24-5 record (19-1 SSC). Jessee led Tampa to the SSC Tournament finals and a regular-season SSC Championship game. The Spartans had a 19-game win streak during the season that spanned from 12/04 to 02/22. As a team, the Spartans had the third-best field goal percentage in the nation at 49.90%. UT achieved a season-best national ranking of #14. Tampa was set to play Benedict on 03/13 before the NCAA Tournament was canceled. Dori Nagy shined for Tampa as she earned All-American, and both South Region and SSC Player of the Year honors. LaShayla Wright-Ponder was named the SSC Newcomer of the Year and first-team All-SSC. Melijah Sullivan earned second-team All-SSC honors.

The shortened 2021 season saw the Spartans play in a record-low seven games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite numerous cancellations, Jessee led UT to win the program's seventh SSC Tournament championship, and go undefeated on the season. Melijah Sullivan was named SSC Player of the Year and Jesse was named back-to-back SSC Coach of the Year.

UT returned to action in 2021-22, winning a school record 29 games while winning both the SSC regular season and tournament championships. The Spartans were a mainstay in the national top-25 all season, appearing as high as No. 11 in the WBCA Coaches Poll. The SSC Coach of the Year also coached several award winners, highlighted by All-American Aliyah Abney.

While at Bluefield State, his teams won four conference championships, two district titles, and advanced to the NAIA Sweet 16 in 1985-86 when he served as an assistant. He was voted district Coach of the Year in 1989, and his team placed either first or second in the WVIAC eight times in 12 seasons (nine as head coach, three as an assistant).

During his career, Jessee has tutored and developed two NAIA All-Americans, three conference and district players of the year, 27 all-conference selections at Bluefield State, and the NCAA II national three-point shooting leader.

On January 25, 2007, Jessee was chosen to the "25 at 25" squad by the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference as one of the league's top five coaches of all time. The group of 20 players and five coaches was selected by a panel of coaches, administrators, players and media.

Jessee was also inducted to the Bluefield State College Athletics Hall of Fame on July 25, 2014. This honor came as a result of his success at both his alma mater and UT.

Just prior to accepting the Tampa position, he coached girls’ basketball at New Port Richey Gulf High School and was named Tampa Tribune Pasco County Coach of the Year in 1998. In five years at the high school level, he compiled a 75-67 record. He was also Pasco County Coach of the Year in golf in 2001-02.

Jessee and his wife Nikki reside in Dover, Fla., with their daughter Rudi. His wife, Nikki, was a standout players at Rollins College, and currently serves as the head women's basketball coach at Warner University.

SSC Regular Season Championships (8) - 1993-94, 2002-03, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2013-14, 2019-20, 2021-23

SSC Tournament Championships (7) - 2000, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2023

NCAA Tournaments (15) - 1994, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023                                                                       

FIRST TEAM ALL-SUNSHINE STATE CONFERENCE (22)
2003 - Jessie McDowell
2004 - Yushanda Morse
2006 - Sheena Walton
2007 - Sheena Walton
2008 - Sheena Walton
2009 - Gianna Messina
2010 - Gianna Messina, Tiara Cook
2011 - Gianna Messina
2014 - Illyssa Vivo
2015 - Juliana Cavallaro
2016 - Juliana Cavallaro
2017 - Elena de Alfredo
2019 - Staja Tyghter, Dori Nagy
2020 – Dori Nagy, LaShayla Wright-Ponder
2021 - Melija Sullivan, LaShayla Wright-Ponder
2022 - LaShayla Wright-Ponder
2023 - Sydney Kin, Melijah Sullivan

FIRST TEAM ALL-SOUTH REGION (6)
2007 - Sheena Walton (WBCA)
2008 - Sheena Walton (WBCA, Daktronics)
2020 - Dori Nagy (D2CCA)
2022 - Aliyah Abney (WBCA); LaShayla Wright-Ponder (D2CCA)
2023 - Sydney Kin (D2CCA)

SOUTH REGION PLAYER OF THE YEAR (3)
2008 - Sheena Walton (Daktronics)
2020 - Dori Nagy (D2CCA)
2023 - Sydney Kin (D2CCA)

ALL-AMERICAN (6)
2007 - Sheena Walton (WBCA HM)
2008 - Sheena Walton (WBCA HM)
2008 - Sheena Walton (Daktronics 2nd Team)
2020- Dori Nagy (D2CCA 2nd Team, Division II Bulletin 2nd Team)
2022 - Aliyah Abney (WBCA HM)
2023 - Sydney Kin (WBCA, D2CCA)

SUNSHINE STATE CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE YEAR (4)
2003 - Jessie McDowell
2020 - Dori Nagy
2021 - Melijah Sullivan
2023 - Sydney Kin

SUNSHINE STATE CONFERENCE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR (2)
2008 - Sheena Walton
2010 - Caitlyn Mitryk

SUNSHINE STATE CONFERENCE NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR (3)
2014 - Ellen Nurmi
2019 - Dori Nagy
2020 - LaShayla Wright-Ponder

SUNSHINE STATE CONFERENCE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR (2)
2005 - Sheena Walton
2011- Lindsey Watson

SUNSHINE STATE CONFERENCE WOMAN OF THE YEAR (ALL SPORTS) (1)
2020-21 - Julia Ingram

CoSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT (7)
2011 - Gianna Messina
2013 - Moriah Hodge
2015 - Juliana Cavallaro
2017 - Elena de Alfredo
2019 - Emily Eshoo
2022 - Dori Nagy
2023 - Audrey Ramsey

CoSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN (2)
2019 - Emily Eshoo (third team)
2023 - Audrey Ramsey (third team)

SSC COACH OF THE YEAR (6): 2002-2003, 2009-2010, 2013-2014, 2019-2020, 2020-21, 2021-22

600, Feb. 28, 2023, def. St. Leo, 79-61
500, Jan. 9, 2019, def. Rollins, 55-44
400, Dec. 7, 2013, def. Barry, 69-53
300, Dec. 6, 2008, def. Palm Beach Atlantic, 60-45
200, Jan. 10, 2004, def. Nova Southeastern, 74-62