Martin Rather was named the Head Coach for Women’s Basketball on September 26, 2025. A graduate of Harvard Law School, Rather is one of the only NCAA Head Coaches to be a bar-certified attorney.
Rather took the reins of the Women’s Basketball program after a successful stint as a Head Coach at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. There, in his only season as the full Head Coach of the Lynx, he was responsible for the largest turnaround in program history. His 2024-2025 team won more games in one season than in the program’s prior six seasons combined.
No stranger to big games or the spotlight, Rather arrived in Bronxville with successful postseason experience. In 2025, Rather’s Lynx advanced to the North Atlantic Conference West Division Finals after defeating Vermont State Lyndon. The win was the first time in program history that Lesley defeated Vermont State Lyndon (previously 0-8), as well as the team’s first-ever North Atlantic Conference playoff victory. This win was featured in a CNN article about Rather’s team.
Rather’s commitment to player development is significant. He has developed All-Conference players, Jostens Award nominees, and Academic All-District recipients. Rather is committed to student success both on- and off-the-court, with his former players excelling in competitive careers and attending top-ranked graduate schools.
Outside of basketball, Rather worked as an Associate Attorney at a major international New York law firm, and prior to law school, at MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show.
Upon his hiring, Sarah Lawrence Athletic Director Kristin Maile said the following: "We are thrilled to welcome Martin Rather as the new head coach of our women's basketball program at Sarah Lawrence College. Martin brings a rare combination of academic rigor and recruiting experience that aligns seamlessly with our mission. As a lawyer and mentor, he is deeply committed to empowering high-achieving student-athletes to pursue ambitious academic and professional goals beyond graduation. His commitment to holistic development, both on and off the court, makes him an outstanding fit to lead our program forward."
Rather graduated from Rice University in Houston, TX magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Sports Management and History with a concentration in Sports Leadership. In 2018, upon graduation, he received Rice’s “Outstanding Senior” award. He holds a master’s in journalism from Columbia and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
