Coaching Carousel Update: July 25, 2024
It’s time for another coaching carousel update! We’ve had six new head coaching hires within the last nine days, with five of those six being midwestern programs. I believe just eight head coaching jobs remain vacant in D-III women’s basketball as the academic year is quickly approaching. Here’s a quick recap, with some additional thoughts, on the recent head coaching announcements across the country…
Edgewood → After Chaia Huff left for an assistant coaching job at nearby D1 Marquette, Edgewood was tasked with finding another high-caliber coach to continue leading the program forwards. And that they did, announcing Kole Vivian as the program’s next leader earlier this afternoon. It is an A+ hire for so many different reasons, starting with Vivian’s track record of success at Marietta. The OAC has been known as a league that is both deep and balanced almost every year, with multiple programs in the mix for the league title. Competing with the likes of Baldwin Wallace, Ohio Northern, John Carroll, and Capital every year, Vivian took Marietta from a second-to-last place finish in the OAC in 2015-16—the year prior to his arrival—to the program’s first OAC Tournament title in 2017-18. After going 24-5 in his second year at the helm, Vivian continued the success, finishing (at minimum) above .500 in four of the next five seasons, with the only exception being the Covid year. From 2021-2024, Marietta went to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments and made a Sweet 16 run in 2022-23. When you pair his remarkable leadership abilities with the fact that Edgewood is poised to return all five starters from a team that went 13-3 in the NACC last year, it’s easy to see why big things are in store for the Eagles in the immediate future. I’m excited to see how this all plays out for Coach Vivian and Edgewood. They’ve got a schedule that includes WashU, Wartburg, Illinois Wesleyan, and Dubuque in non-conference play, so we will see Edgewood tested early and often this season. (Link to Edgewood press release)
"There is so much that makes me excited to be the head coach at Edgewood College. First off, the current team is set up for success. The College is in a great location with high achieving academic programs for our team members. And being from Wisconsin, it is special to be closer to family in Madison."
-Kole Vivian
Elmhurst → Jason Pruitt led the Bluejays for just one season before taking the associate head coaching position at D1 Indiana State. But in that one season, he turned things around at Elmhurst, leading the program to its first CCIW Tournament appearance since 2018-19. He took a team that went 3-21 in 2022-23 to a 12-14 record last season, as the Bluejays competed really well over the second half of conference play. Inheriting a team that is bringing back every starter from last season is Cameron Tucker, a University of Wyoming assistant whose hiring was announced on Wednesday. Tucker is in great position to continue the success from last season, as he takes over a roster that has veteran starters and knows how to win the CCIW. Tucker has a D-III background, and served as DePauw’s associate head coach from 2015-2023, as the Tigers won five NCAC regular season titles and played in the NCAA Tournament six times. He clearly knows what it takes to win in D-III. Tucker has past experience in D-I, D-II, and D-III, and also spent a season coaching at the University of Edinburgh in the UK. (Link to Elmhurst press release)
“Coach Tucker quickly rose to the top of our list for many reasons. He has a significant amount of experience at all levels of basketball, and has achieved significant success in Division III women's basketball. He also has a great passion for helping our student-athletes grow and develop off the court. His combination of passion for basketball success, off-the-court success, and a great track record of recruiting made him a great choice to lead our program for many years.
-Elmhurst AD Dr. Glen Brittich
St. Olaf → The MIAC has had three head coaches depart this offseason, and St. Olaf was the most recent of the trio to announce the program’s next leader, doing so on Friday. And wow, was it a big hire. Megan Lueck has been named head coach after spending six seasons on staff at South Dakota State, one of the nation’s top mid-majors in recent years. During her time there, the Jackrabbits went 157-42, won the Summit League regular season crown on five occasions, became the first Summit League team to post a perfect conference record in two straight seasons, and qualified for a national tournament in all six years. That includes an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 run in 2019, and a WNIT championship in 2022. Lueck has been part of a ton of winning, and that’s certainly a strong background to come from when looking to rebuild a program. The MIAC is a tough league, with Gustavus Adolphus and Concordia-Moorhead at the front of the pack, and several other well-known programs in Saint Benedict, Bethel, and St. Kate’s, to name a few. St. Olaf comes off a 4-20 campaign in 2023-24, so there’s definitely some work to do. But Lueck seems to have a strong vision for the future of the program. (Link to St. Olaf press release)
“I will do everything that I can to give our current and future student-athletes the best experience possible. I am grateful that Kelly Mahlum and the St. Olaf community have chosen me to lead this program and also appreciate the support I have received from South Dakota State University, my family, and my friends. I can't wait to get back to my home state of Minnesota and get to work!"
-Megan Lueck
Augsburg → In another MIAC coaching announcement, Augsburg has tabbed Mallie Doucette to lead the program after she spent the last two seasons on staff at Concordia-St. Paul (D2). A St. Cloud State (D2) alum, Augsburg is Doucette’s fourth coaching stop since 2019. She began her time on the sidelines at UW-Eau Claire, before coaching two years of high school basketball followed by the assistant coaching job at CSP. She was the top assistant for a CSP squad that went 20-8 last season, handling offensive and defensive scouting and film analysis, in addition to recruiting responsibilities. Augsburg should have two starters back this season, as the Auggies come off an 8-15 season in 2023-24. (Link to Augsburg press release)
"I feel so fortunate to be named the new head women's basketball coach at Augsburg University, and I am excited to get started. I look forward to getting to work with these great young women, and can't wait to continue all the good work that Ted and his staff have demonstrated during his tenure.”
-Mallie Doucette
Pitt-Greensburg → Julie Bolden was announced as Pitt-Greensburg’s next head coach last week, following two years in the Division I ranks at Dayton as an assistant coach and the Directory of Recruiting & Creativity. This marks her third college coaching stop, and her first in D-III. This is a solid program in the AMCC, having gone 10-8 in league play last season. That marked the fourth consecutive season in which the Bobcats posted a conference winning percentage above .550. (Link to UPG press release)
"We're going to play fast and aggressive. I love the high-tempo aspect of getting the ball up the court, finding great shots, and bringing energy defensively. It's going to be a great fit with the players we have."
-Julie Bolden
Rockford → Earlier today, Rockford announced that former Alderson Broaddus (D2) head coach Ta-Rel Franklin will lead the Regents as head coach. Franklin, who spent last season on staff at D1 Cal Poly, has D-III experience in his background as well. He was an assistant men’s coach at both Hendrix and Bluffton earlier in his career prior to joining the men’s coaching staff at Alderson Broaddus. He head coached the women’s program there in the institution’s final year of existence in 2022-23. (Link to Rockford press release)
"Rockford University's strong academic foundation resonates deeply with me as both a person and a coach. I am thrilled to embark on this journey and look forward to leading the Rockford University women's basketball program towards a championship culture in the classroom, in the community and on the court."