Non-Big Ten Coaching Changes 2021-22

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Report: LSU's Fargas in talks to be Aces president

LSU women's basketball coach Nikki Fargas is in talks with the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces to become the next team president, a person familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press.

www.espn.com

Apparently Fargas is interested in the WNBA:

LSU women's basketball coach Nikki Fargas is in negotiations to become Las Vegas Aces president, a person familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press.

The person spoke to the AP on Friday on condition of anonymity because no deal has been finalized. Bill Laimbeer has been the team's president and coach since the franchise moved from San Antonio to Las Vegas in 2018.

It's been an eventful offseason for the Aces, who were bought by Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis. The team, which lost to Seattle in the WNBA Finals, added All-Star point guard Chelsea Gray to a stacked roster that includes league MVP A'ja Wilson.

Fargas just completed her 10th season at LSU and was 177-129 at the school. The team was 9-13 this past season. She led LSU to the Sweet 16 twice, the last time in 2014.

Before coming to LSU in 2011, Fargas was the head coach of UCLA for three seasons, finishing second in the Pac-12 in 2011 when the Bruins went 28-5.

 

[thatjanelpick]

...and it sounds like Mulkey may be interested in the job.

 

[adamj95]

...and it sounds like Mulkey may be interested in the job.

Where’d you hear that?

 

[adamj95]

Just saw this.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Mark Trakh Retires As USC Women’s Basketball Head Coach - USC Athletics

Mark Trakh posted a 65-50 record over the past four seasons (2018-21), his second stint at USC.

usctrojans.com

Mark Trakh retires from Southern Cal:

LOS ANGELES — USC women's basketball head coach Mark Trakh, who guided the Women of Troy the past four seasons, announced today (April 21) that he is retiring.

This was Trakh's second stint as USC's head coach. He is the second winningest women's basketball coach in USC history behind Linda Sharp, with a 155-114 record.

"This is a perfect time for a transition in the Trojan basketball program," said Trakh. "I can't imagine a more optimal time for all of us to embrace a fresh start. I am incredibly thankful to athletic director Mike Bohn, senior woman administrator Joyce Bell Limbrick and the USC Athletics personnel who have kindly provided the opportunity for me to leave USC in such a courteous manner. Their leadership will surely make the next chapter of women's basketball the greatest one yet.

"I am incredibly proud of my accomplishments on and off the court knowing that the program is in a great place. I would also like to thank all the wonderful student-athletes that I had the pleasure to coach. I have no doubt that they will have great success in the future. Fight On."

USC was 11-12 overall in the recently concluded 2021 season, with four games cancelled due to COVID-19 issues, and placed eighth in the Pac-12 standings at 8-10.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Sources: Kim Mulkey, LSU nearing deal for Louisiana homecoming

LSU could announce as early as next week its replacement for LSU women’s hoops coach Nikki Fargas and sources have insinuated it will be Kim Mulkey.

www.wbrz.com

Yesterday's Mulkey manipulations:

BATON ROUGE – LSU could announce as early as next week its replacement for LSU women’s hoops coach Nikki Fargas and sources have insinuated it will be Kim Mulkey.

The bombshell hire would send waves through the sports community, bringing Mulkey home to south Louisiana.

Mulkey was born in Tickfaw and attended Louisiana Tech where she was later an assistant coach. Mulkey is the head coach at Baylor.

She has coached Baylor to three national titles and won championships as both a player and coach at Louisiana Tech.

Fargas, WBRZ has reported, is in line to leave LSU and join the Las Vegas Aces, the city’s WNBA team. She’ll be the organization’s president.

Fargas makes about $700,000 at LSU; Mulkey takes home more than $2 million at Baylor.

The Advocate, which reported details of the possibility first Friday, called hiring Mulkey “the most significant hire in [Athletic Director Scott Woodward’s] two-year tenure.”

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Hall of Fame coach Mulkey leaves Baylor for LSU

Kim Mulkey, who grew up in Tickfaw, Louisiana, is leaving Baylor after 21 years.

www.espn.com

It's official: Mulkey to LSU

Hall of Fame women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey, who won three national championships in 21 seasons at Baylor, is leaving for LSU.

LSU announced the blockbuster hire on Sunday.

Mulkey, who grew up in Tickfaw, Louisiana, will be introduced in a news conference on Monday.


"Kim Mulkey is a champion and a Hall of Famer, and we are thrilled to welcome her home," said LSU director of athletics Scott Woodward in a statement. "Her accomplishments are unprecedented, her passion is unrivaled, and her commitment to winning in all aspects of life -- in the classroom, on the court, and in the community -- is unparalleled. We look forward to working with her as she instills that championship culture at LSU."

Mulkey, 58, took over a Baylor program in 2000 that had never reached the NCAA tournament. The Lady Bears have missed the tournament only once since then and won the national championship in 2005, 2012 and 2019.

Mulkey played at Louisiana Tech, where she later spent 15 years as an assistant and associate head coach.

She won a gold medal as a member of the 1984 Olympic Team and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame last year.

"We are grateful for the more than two decades Kim Mulkey poured into building Baylor women's basketball to one of the nation's premier programs," Baylor director of athletics Mack B. Rhoades said in a statement. "Coach Mulkey's sustained success is one of the most remarkable runs in college basketball history, and her accomplishments are worthy of the Naismith Hall of Fame induction she'll experience later this year."

Rhodes added that the Bears have launched a national search for their next head coach.

Mulkey takes over for Nikki Fargas, who stepped down on Saturday after 10 seasons at LSU. According to a statement, Fargas was leaving to pursue another opportunity. While LSU did not disclose where Fargas was headed next, she has been in negotiations to take over as team president of the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces, people familiar with those discussions have told The Associated Press

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

LSU women's basketball hires Baylor coach Kim Mulkey, expected to earn $2.5M annually

Three-time national champion women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey is leaving Baylor to become LSU's coach.

www.theadvertiser.com

Mulkey's base (I assume) contract at LSU:

She made $2.27 million a year at Baylor, according to USA TODAY's salary database. Multiple LSU sources told The Daily Advertiser she will receive a package of $2.5 million annually. The sources requested anonymity because Mulkey's salary has not been announced by LSU.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Mulkey's 8-year LSU deal worth at least $22.5M

Coach Kim Mulkey received an eight-year deal from LSU that will pay her at least $22.5 million before incentives.

www.espn.com

8 years and at least $22.5 million for Kim Mulkey:

New LSU women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey received an eight-year deal that will pay her at least $22.5 million before incentives, the school announced Wednesday.

LSU is also buying out her contract at Baylor, and will provide a personal travel allowance of $80,000 per year. The agreement is contingent on final approval by the LSU board of supervisors.

Mulkey's hiring was announced Sunday, and she was introduced in a ceremony at Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Monday. Mulkey was 632-104 in 21 seasons at Baylor, with three NCAA championships, a dozen Big 12 regular-season titles and 11 league tournament championships.

Mulkey, who turns 59 in May, has a base salary of $400,000. Her supplemental compensation starts at $2,045,000 in 2021-22, and increases yearly to $2,902,000 in the final year of the deal, 2028-29. There is additional sponsor-related compensation of $60,000.

There are bonuses for advancing through each round of the NCAA tournament, starting at $28,000 for a first-round win and going through $150,000 for a national championship game victory. Mulkey would receive $65,000 for an SEC regular-season title, $35,000 for an SEC tournament title, $15,000 for being national coach of the year and $10,000 for being SEC coach of the year. If LSU finishes ranked in the top 10, that's another $30,000 bonus, and ranked from 11-25 would be $25,000.

If LSU finishes in the top-10 percentile of the multiyear academic progress rate, Mulkey receives $13,000, and in the top 11-40 percentile, $9,000. She also receives a courtesy vehicle or vehicle allowance of $1,000 per month.

If LSU terminates the contract without cause, Mulkey will receive $2.5 million up until June 30, 2022. From July 1, 2022 on, she would get $2 million. If Mulkey leaves before the contract is finished, she would owe the school $2 million.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Arizona ups Barnes deal to $5.85M over 5 years

Arizona and women's basketball coach Adia Barnes have agreed to new financial terms to her previously announced contract extension, the school announced Tuesday, which includes $5.85 million in base salary over five years.

www.espn.com

Adia Barnes gets a new deal: five years at $5.85 million (base).

Arizona and women's basketball coach Adia Barnes have agreed to new financial terms to her previously announced contract extension, the school announced Tuesday, which includes $5.85 million in base salary over five years.

The deal, which extends Barnes through the 2025-26 season, was originally announced on March 18, before the Wildcats advanced to the national championship game of the women's NCAA tournament. Her base salary under that deal was reported by the Arizona Daily Star to be $3,345,000 over five years.

Barnes' base salary over that period will now be $5.85 million, pending approval from Arizona's board of regents. There were no changes to the incentive structure of her contract; Barnes can earn bonuses for postseason success and appearances in the season-ending national rankings.

"As this past season made perfectly clear, Arizona women's basketball has joined the nation's elite under Coach Barnes' leadership and will remain there for a long time to come," athletic director Dave Heeke said in a statement Tuesday. "This new contract demonstrates our continued commitment to our women's basketball program, and to Adia, who has revitalized our program and brought the excitement and energy to a whole new level."

Barnes' Wildcats finished the season 21-6. A No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament, Arizona defeated Stony Brook, BYU, Texas A&M and Indiana to advance to the program's first Women's Final Four. In the national semifinals, Arizona upset No. 1 seed UConn before falling to No. 1 Stanford 54-53 in the title game.

Barnes, 44, saw her profile rise dramatically during the Wildcats' run to the national championship. She was linked to the recent Baylor coaching search when Kim Mulkey left for LSU. But Arizona, Barnes' alma mater, opted to increase her deal.

"I am honored to coach at my alma mater and represent Tucson, a city where it all began for me," said Barnes, who became just the second former WNBA player to lead a team to the Women's Final Four, after South Carolina's Dawn Staley. "This contract is a commitment to our sport, Arizona Women's Basketball, and this university. It is my responsibility to honor that commitment with a relentless pursuit of a national championship."

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Cavs assistant Gottlieb to coach USC women

Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Lindsay Gottlieb has been hired as the women's head coach at USC.

www.espn.com

Southern Cal hires Lindsay Gottlieb with a "massive upgrade in program salary and resources."

Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Lindsay Gottlieb has been hired as the women's head coach at USC, the school announced Monday.

Sources told ESPN that Gottlieb agreed to a six-year deal.

"It is an honor and a thrill to become the women's basketball coach at USC," Gottlieb said in a statement released by the school. "I am inspired by the incredible history of this program and excited about the opportunity to do special things with the young women I will have the privilege to coach."

Gottlieb leaves the NBA after an aggressive USC pursuit to bring her back to the Pac-12 Conference, including a massive upgrade in program salary and resources with hopes of restoring USC to the elite of women's college basketball, sources said.

Gottlieb was the first female head coach from a Power 5 conference to make the leap to the NBA sidelines, moving from the University of California to the Cavaliers in 2019.

Gottlieb earned praise inside the Cleveland organization and locker room for her work with the Cavaliers, becoming a front bench assistant under head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.

Gottlieb played a role in everything on Bickerstaff's coaching staff, including game preparation and player development with the Cavs' strong young core of Jarrett Allen, Collin Sexton, Darius Garland and Isaac Okoro

​

"I went to the NBA to challenge myself at the highest levels of the game of basketball and was fully invested in that journey," Gottlieb said. "However, the commitment of President Carol Folt and athletic director Mike Bohn to women's basketball at USC, and to my vision of success, made it clear that NOW is the right time to come here and use all my coaching experience to partner with the young women in the program, the administration and our future student-athletes to make USC women's basketball the most dynamic program in the country."

Gottlieb will remain with the Cavaliers for the final four games of the regular season before leaving for USC, sources said. Her agent, Bret Just of WME Sports, finalized details of the deal with Bohn on Monday morning, sources said.


"We are thrilled to name Lindsay Gottlieb our new women's basketball head coach," Bohn said in a statement. "A trailblazer who smashed through the glass ceiling of men's professional sports, I cannot think of a better coach, leader, and role model for our young women. Lindsay has a proven record of success in the country's premier women's basketball conference, and her commitment to student-athletes aligns perfectly with our vision and values.

"After an incredible experience in the NBA, Lindsay is taking leadership of our program at a time when she has become her very best as a coach and teacher, and we have the utmost confidence in her ability to lead the Women of Troy back to national prominence."

Gottlieb, 43, built a perennial NCAA tournament team in her eight seasons at Cal, including a trip to the Final Four in 2013. She advanced to the NCAA tournament seven times in those eight seasons, winning tournament games in six of those seven years.

Gottlieb led UCSB to the NCAA and WNIT tournaments in three seasons before Cal hired her away in 2011. She coached several of her stars, including New York's Layshia Clarendon and Los Angeles' Kristine Anigwe, to the WNBA.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Syracuse investigating allegations vs. Hillsman

Syracuse has opened an external investigation into "troubling" allegations of threats, bullying and inappropriate behavior by women's basketball coach Quentin Hillsman.

www.espn.com

Why the mass exodus from Syracuse women’s basketball? 'Ego, manipulation ... fear tactics'

Coach Quentin Hillsman is accused of bullying and threatening players and inappropriate physical contact.

theathletic.com

Not a change...yet; but an Athletic article sparks an investigation of Syracuse's Quentin Hillsman.

"The allegations reported in The Athletic today are troubling," Syracuse said in a statement to Syracuse.com on Tuesday. "Based on the nature of these allegations, Syracuse University is engaging an outside firm to conduct an independent review and will take appropriate action based on its outcome.

"While no formal complaints have been made to date from members of the women's basketball program, we take these allegations very seriously. We ask any individual who has knowledge of or has experienced this kind of conduct to come forward. Syracuse University remains focused on the well-being and success of our student-athletes."

From the Athletic:

The number of transfers from Syracuse’s women’s program this year is the most among any Division I program, men or women. Since 2018, 20 have left, the highest rate among any Power 5 women’s team during that span that has not endured a coaching change. Of the 14 top-100 recruits Hillsman has signed since 2015 – which is more than both UConn and South Carolina have signed over the same period – nine have left after two or fewer seasons. The question isn’t just why 11 women left Syracuse this year. It’s why players have been ditching the Orange for years.

The answer – gleaned from interviews with nine former players as well as 19 others, including team managers and staff members – is that Hillsman’ often-inappropriate behavior, including unwanted physical contact, threats and bullying, and the program’s generally pernicious culture, pushed many players and staff members to leave. After a 2016 run to the national championship game, Hillsman’s ego also ballooned – “I’m a star,’’ he told them frequently – and players felt his attention to their well-being shrunk. In an era when player support, mental health, trust and relationships are paramount, many players felt Hillsman treated them like replaceable cogs in his wheel.

Kadi gets a brief mention:

Pachis Roberts, a Parade All-American, played sparingly in one season at Syracuse then became Georgia’s leading scorer and rebounder, as well as an All-SEC second-team selection. Jade Phillips, a top-100 recruit who struggled for playing time under Hillsman, led Charlotte in scoring and rebounding. Kadi Sissoko quadrupled her production after moving on to Minnesota, and Alisha Lewis, who played only seven games at Syracuse, was named league Newcomer and Sixth Player of the Year after her first season at Central Florida. Finally, Desiree Elmore barely played for Hillsman and yet at Seton Hall became a 1,000-point scorer and first-team All-Big East.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Gators' Newbauer resigns for 'personal reasons'

Florida women's basketball coach Cam Newbauer, who got a three-year extension after going 46-71 in his four seasons, has resigned for "personal reasons." Kelly Rae Finley will serve as interim coach for the 2021-22 season.

www.espn.com

Florida's Cam Newbauer resigns.

Just six weeks after signing a three-year extension, Florida women's basketball coach Cam Newbauer stepped down Friday for "personal reasons," the school announced Friday.

Newbauer, hired from Belmont in March 2017, failed to turn around the school's only sport to never win a conference championship.

The 43-year-old Indiana native was 46-71 overall and 15-47 in Southeastern Conference play, including three three-win seasons in four years. Newbauer had four years remaining on a deal that paid him $500,000 annually.

His departure came two days after leading scorer Lavender Briggs entered the transfer portal -- another indication the program was far from being on the right track.

Athletic director Scott Stricklin named Kelly Rae Finley as the interim head coach for the 2021-22 season. Stricklin said he plans to hire a permanent replacement following next season.

 

[gopher572]

Quentin Hillsman has resigned.

Syracuse women’s basketball coach Quentin Hillsman has resigned amid investigation into alleged conduct

Hillsman was accused of inappropriate behavior and bullying.

www.syracuse.com

 

[tripledouble]

Wondering if Hillsman's resignation will impact Christina Carr's decision to transfer to Syracuse. She noted that one of the main reasons to transfer there was because of her relationship with Hillsman.

 

[Ragnor]

Wondering if Hillsman's resignation will impact Christina Carr's decision to transfer to Syracuse. She noted that one of the main reasons to transfer there was because of her relationship with Hillsman.

My first thought too, it completely baffles me why someone would go there with his track record of players leaving. Hillsman must be one heck of a talker to be able to put a cover over all the smoke coming out of that program.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Vonn Read to Serve as Acting Head Coach of Syracuse Women’s Basketball for 2021-22 Season

John Wildhack, director of Athletics at Syracuse University, today announced Vonn Read, currently associate head coach, will serve as acting head coach for ...

news.syr.edu

At Syracuse, current assistant, Vonn Read, will serve as interim head coach for the coming season.

John Wildhack, director of Athletics at Syracuse University, today announced Vonn Read, currently associate head coach, will serve as acting head coach for the 2021-22 basketball season.

“I am grateful to Vonn for stepping up to lead,” says Wildhack. “With Vonn’s vast experience developing student-athletes, I am confident in his ability to guide the women’s basketball program.”

“Our program has everything a coach could ask for, but most especially talented and committed student-athletes who are as successful off the court as they are on it,” says Read. ”I’m looking forward to getting back out on the court with the team.”

Read, who first joined the Syracuse staff prior to the 2011-12 season, was promoted from assistant coach to associate head coach in October 2013. Previously, Read served as assistant coach at University at Albany and University of Kentucky. Read has also held various positions with the United States Basketball League’s Dodge City Legend, the San Antonio Silver Stars, the Orlando Magic, the Charlotte Sting, the Orlando Miracle and the Phoenix Mercury.

Read began his coaching career as an assistant at Spelman College in 1997. Prior to entering the coaching ranks, Read served in the United States Army from 1989-93 at Fort Drum, N.Y., and Fort Lee, Va. A native of Milwaukee, Wis., Read graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science from Clark Atlanta in 1997, where he was a member of the tennis team.

As previously announced, the University retained an external law firm to conduct an independent and impartial review of the program. That work is ongoing, and has already resulted in immediate steps, including contracting with Real Response, a real time anonymous reporting platform for student-athletes that provides a centralized documentation repository. Upon conclusion of the review, the Department of Athletics will take the appropriate actions that prioritize the well-being of our student-athletes and provide them with the best experience possible.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Ex-UF women's hoops coach accused of abuse

Multiple players went on the record Monday to accuse former Florida women's basketball coach Cam Newbauer of creating a toxic, abusive environment during his tenure.

www.espn.com

More on Cam Newbauer's personal reasons for his Florida resignation:

Multiple players accused former Florida women's basketball coach Cam Newbauer of creating a toxic environment during his tenure, including intimidation, verbal abuse and racist comments.

Players went on the record with their allegations Monday in a story published in the school's newspaper, The Independent Florida Alligator. The story also detailed multiple instances when players or their parents went to administrators with concerns well before Newbauer offered his resignation last July.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Mississippi State's McCray-Penson steps down

Nikki McCray-Penson says she is stepping down as Bulldogs coach after one season due to unspecified health concerns she had hoped were behind her.

www.espn.com

Nikki McCray-Penson steps down at Mississippi State citing health concerns.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippi State women's basketball coach Nikki McCray-Penson says she is stepping down as Bulldogs coach immediately after one season to focus on her health.

The Women's Basketball Hall of Famer said in a news release Tuesday that she has been faced again with unspecified health concerns she had hoped were behind her. McCray-Penson said she decided to step away to devote time and energy toward addressing these issues. The Bulldogs were 10-9 (5-7 Southeastern Conference) in her lone season as coach.

"Although I look forward to returning to coaching when I am able," she said, "I believe this is the best decision for me and my family at this time. I appreciate the support MSU has shown me, and I will be pulling for the team's success this season."

Associate head coach Doug Novak will be MSU's interim coach, and the school will conduct a national search for a new coach. Athletic director John Cohen said the school appreciated McCray-Penson's time and effort, and respected her decision to focus on her health and family.

"Throughout her time as a player and as a coach, Nikki has shown herself to be a competitor," Cohen said, "and we fully support her as she takes some time away from the game to address her health concerns."

MSU hired McCray-Penson to replace Vic Schaefer in April 2020 after she led Old Dominion to consecutive 20-win seasons and was a WBCA Coach of the Year finalist. She was a South Carolina assistant under Dawn Staley and helped the Gamecocks win the 2017 NCAA championship, and also was on the staff at Western Kentucky.

The former University of Tennessee standout won the 1997 ABL title with the Columbus Quest and was the league's MVP. She also won Olympic gold medals with Team USA in 1996 and 2000 before serving as a USA Basketball court coach for the Under-19 and Pan Am Games team trials in 2019.

 

[whalenfan]

Mississippi State's McCray-Penson steps down

Nikki McCray-Penson says she is stepping down as Bulldogs coach after one season due to unspecified health concerns she had hoped were behind her.

www.espn.com

Nikki McCray-Penson steps down at Mississippi State citing health concerns.

Interesting situation for Doug Novak, from Bethel mens head coach to a sec wbb head coach in a few weeks.

 

[gopher572]

Interesting situation for Doug Novak, from Bethel mens head coach to a sec wbb head coach in a few weeks.

Hopefully the school updates their website. They have him coaching at Bethel University in PA before going to MSU.

Doug Novak - Women's Basketball Coach - Mississippi State

Doug Novak was named the interim head coach of the Mississippi State Women's Basketball team on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 after Nikki McCray-Penson stepped d...

hailstate.com

Novak possesses nearly three decades of coaching experience, most recently as the head coach at Bethel University in Pennsylvania for the past eight seasons and as the top assistant coach at The Citadel and Tulane for seven seasons on the men’s side.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

OFFICIAL: Novak resigns at Bethel (MN) - HoopDirt

Following up on something that I mentioned on Twitter this weekend. Doug Novak’s resignation at D3 Bethel is now official. Also, the P5 school mentioned is Mississippi State… Bethel University men’s basketball head coach Doug Novak announced that he is resigning his post after eight seasons with...

hoopdirt.com

Just so there's no confusion:

Following up on something that I mentioned on Twitter this weekend. Doug Novak’s resignation at D3 Bethel is now official. Also, the P5 school mentioned is Mississippi State…

Bethel University men’s basketball head coach Doug Novak announced that he is resigning his post after eight seasons with the Royals. Novak leaves Arden Hills to become the associate head women’s basketball coach at a NCAA Division I Power Five institution.

“It’s by far the best and most rewarding job I have ever had in my 30 years of coaching,” said Novak. “Leaving Bethel is one of the toughest and craziest decisions I have made. Actually, coming to Bethel was the craziest. While I am looking forward to sharing the wisdom gained over the last eight years with a different team, there is another part of me that hurts knowing I won’t be able to experience the Bethel hallways on a daily basis with my best friends.”

Novak was named head coach back on June 4, 2013 and will depart with the highest winning percentage of any Bethel basketball coach with a 131-68 (.658) mark. He helped lead the Royals to a share of the program’s first-ever MIAC regular-season championship in 2016-17 before winning the MIAC Playoffs over Saint John’s in front of a sold out Robertson Center a week later. Novak and the Royals earned the program’s second-ever NCAA tournament bid, the first since 1991.

“Coach Novak was instrumental in building Bethel basketball into a perennial MIAC contender,” said Director of Athletics Greg Peterson. “I am grateful for his investment into Bethel, the program and for how he elevated our entire department in many ways. We wish him, Tonya, and their family God’s best as they head for this new adventure.”

Bethel posted identical 21-7 records in both the 2017 and 2018 seasons, tying the program record for wins previously set in 2002. He helped lead BU to seven consecutive MIAC Playoff appearances, advancing to the semifinals six times and the championship game three times.

Under Novak, the Royals recorded program records for steals in a single season (244), longest winning streak versus four-year schools (11), made 3-pointers in a game (23) and most steals in a game (17).

The Royals produced 17 MIAC All-Conference selections and five Honorable Mention All-Conference selections during Novak’s tenure. In addition, he helped BU become the first team in MIAC history to have two freshmen awarded All-Conference accolades in consecutive seasons