Coaching Carousel Update: July 1, 2024
Over the last 10 days or so, I’ve posted several coaching news updates on X/Twitter, but figured I’d compile the recent coaching news here as we enter the month of July. As this week goes on, I’ll have the final five teams in my Way-Too-Early Top 30 ranking, as well as a Q&A with new Oglethorpe head coach Jasen Jonus, so be looking for those.
As for coaching news, 17 head coaching jobs remain open in Division III, though several coaching searches are nearing their conclusion. Recently, we’ve seen vacancies at WashU and St. Mary’s (MD), and several notable jobs still haven’t announced a head coach for 2024-25, including UChicago. With WashU’s Randi Henderson taking an assistant coaching position at Iowa, half of the UAA (including 2 of the Top 4 teams in last year’s standings) will have new head coaches next season.
Here’s a look at some of the recent movement within the Division III women’s basketball coaching world…
Brandeis (UAA): Julie Prichett, Babson assistant: Prichett was named head coach at Brandeis last week, after three seasons on staff at Babson. She spent her first two years at Babson under famed head coach Judy Blinstrub, and remained with the program through the coaching change, as the Beavers reached the NEWMAC Tournament final this past season under first-year head coach Kate Barnosky. Prichett brings head coaching experience to the table as well, having made stops at D3 Regis (2005-2013), D2 Saint Anselm (2013-2017), and ACAA/D3 Pine Manor College (2018-2021). Notably, she led Regis to its first national tournament appearance in 18 years during the 2013 campaign, posting a 128-87 record in her first stint as a D3 head coach. Prichett also helped Saint Anselm reach the 2016 national tournament in D2. As a student-athlete, she was a key factor in Southern Maine’s success on the court from 1996-2000, as the Huskies twice played in the D3 national title game. Prichett still ranks within the Top 5 in several stat categories at Southern Maine and was a 2006 inductee into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. » Press Release
Beloit (NAAC): Larry Knight, Beloit assistant: Another hiring announced last week, Knight will take the reins of the program after spending last season as an assistant at Beloit. The Buccaneers won 11 games last season, the most since 2008-09, but will likely have at least two (possibly three) new starters in 2024-25. This will be Knight’s first head coaching position at the college level. » Press Release
Washington & Lee (ODAC): Brittany Kemp, St. Mary’s (MD) head coach: Kemp becomes the sixth head coach in W&L history after a solid run at St. Mary’s from 2021-2024. She led the Seahwks to three consecutive double-digit win seasons there, including a 17-8 record in 2022-23, and was 43-33 overall in her time at the helm. A Union College alum, Kemp began her coaching career at Trinity (CT) before joining the staff at WPI and in 2023, was named a WBCA Thirty under 30 honoree. » Press Release
North Central (MN) (UMAC): David Rohrbach, NCU assistant: Rohrbach has been promoted to head coach after one year with the program, following eight seasons at the high school level. He was 113-61 as a high school head coach, and this marks his first college head coaching opportunity. Last season, Rohrbach helped NCU reach the UMAC Tournament for the sixth straight season, while also claiming the NCCAA North Regional Championship. » Press Release
Maine-Presque Isle (NAC): Mark Knight, UMPI men’s basketball associate head coach: Knight has been at UMPI in various roles within the athletic department since 2017, though this will be the first time in his coaching career he has coached women’s basketball. His coaching experience has come on the men’s side, starting with his time as a GA at Webber International University (his alma mater) before taking the assistant job at UMPI prior to the 2017-18 season. Only four players were on the roster when he joined the staff, and Knight helped make UMPI competitive within the NAC year-in and year-out. UMPI is coming off a 13-12 season in 2023-24 under Gavin Kane, who is now serving as head club coach and an assistant varsity coach at Thomas College. »Press Release
Wilson (UEC): Dylan Ward, Wilson assistant: Ward has been promoted to head coach after two seasons as an assistant with the program. Wilson has seemingly been on the rise over the last few years, with three consecutive seasons with a double-digit win total under former head coach Shane Rottier, who is now at Lycoming. Previously, Ward served as the head coach at Cumberland Valley Christian School (Chambersburg, PA) for four years, leading the program to a 23-win season in his second year. »Press Release
Other Notes:
Catholic assistant Casey Filiault has taken an assistant coaching position at Division I Le Moyne. "Casey is a rising star in this profession," said Le Moyne head coach Nick DiPillo.
Allison Chernow, who served as the interim head coach at Wheaton (MA) this past season, is now on the staff at Division I Lehigh. Chernow is an Emory WBB alum, and spent a total of four years at Wheaton from 2020-2024, with the first three spent as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator.
I’ve heard there are four finalists for the St. John Fisher job, including two current Division III head coaches. That is a job that generated some significant interest from head coaches at both Division II and Division III programs, considering the exceptional success of the program over the last several years. I’d expect we get an announcement on SJF’s next head coach soon.