United States Merchant Marine Academy

Alexa Shields was named the fourth head coach in the history of the United States Merchant Marine Academy women's basketball program in January 2025 after serving as the program's associate head coach for eight seasons. Shields completed her 18th season on the Mariners' coaching staff in 2025-26 and, following 17 years as an assistant and associate head coach, seamlessly transitioned into leading one of the Skyline Conference's premier programs.
 
In her first two seasons as head coach, Shields guided the Mariners to the 2026 Skyline Conference Championship and back-to-back NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship appearances in 2025 and 2026. She was named Skyline Conference Coach of the Year in both seasons and also earned consecutive United States Merchant Marine Academy Coach of the Year honors.
 
Under Shields' leadership, the Mariners have produced a WBCA and D3hoops.com All-American in each of her first two seasons, while also earning numerous All-Skyline Conference and All-Region honors and continuing the program's tradition of excellence both on the court and in the classroom. During her tenure on the coaching staff, the program has produced eight 1,000-point scorers, earned the USMMA Athletic Department's Small Team Academic Award, and had one student-athlete recognized as the Skyline Conference Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
 
Shields oversees all aspects of the women's basketball program, including recruiting, scouting, player development, practice planning, film analysis, travel coordination, and Sea Year fitness programming. In addition to her coaching responsibilities, she serves as an Assistant Professor at the Academy where she teaches aquatics, and directs the Leadership Assessment Program within the Department of Physical Education & Athletics.
 
Before arriving at Kings Point, Shields served as a graduate assistant coach at Rutgers-Newark.
 
A three-time All-New Jersey Athletic Conference guard at The College of New Jersey, Shields helped lead the Lions to NJAC Championships in 2004 and 2006. She finished her collegiate career tied for third in program history in assists (309) and ranked fifth in steals (196). A four-year letterwinner and two-time team captain, Shields earned First Team All-NJAC honors in 2005 after receiving Second Team recognition as both a sophomore and senior.
 
Shields earned her bachelor's degree in Communications from The College of New Jersey in 2006, where she was named to the Dean's List all four years. She later earned a master's degree in Liberal Studies from Rutgers-Newark.
 
A native of Huntington, Indiana, Shields graduated from Wall High School in Wall Township, New Jersey.