Kira Arthofer banked in a game-winning shot as Eastern Illinois women’s basketball gutted out a 70-68 road win over SIUE. The buzzer beater gave head coach Matt Bollant the 400th win of his career, and moved EIU to 13-10 on the season, and 8-4 in Ohio Valley Conference play.
“What a way to get it, on a last second shot,” said coach Bollant. “A lot of adversity. A lot of things didn’t go our way today. So, pretty special to find a way to win.”
Highlights of Bolant’s career include:
Eastern Illinois
* Hired as 9th head women’s basketball coach in EIU history on April 14, 2017
* Enters fifth season as Panthers head coach in 2021-22 season
* Coached team to third biggest win turnaround in program history in 2018-19 with plus 8 wins
* Coached team to second biggest win turnaround in NCAA over last two years (2018-20) with plus 16 wins
* Coached team to 19 wins in 2019-20, most wins by team since 2012-13 season
* Coached team to 12 OVC wins and 4th place finish in 2019-20 (highest for team since 2012-13 season)
* Coached team to second straight OVC Tournament appearance in 2020-21 winning nine OVC games during COVID-19 season
* Coached team that ranked 41st in NCAA in steals per game in 2018-19, improved to 19th in NCAA in 2019-20
* Coached team that ranked 51st in NCAA in turnovers forced in 2018-19, improved to 43rd in NCAA in 2019-20
* Coached team that ranked 24th in NCAA in free throw percentage in 2020-21 at 76.5 percent
* Coaches team that was 41st in NCAA in total steals in 2020-21 (8.9 steals per game)
* Coached two first team All-OVC selections (Karle Pace, Lariah Washington and Abby Wahl)
* Coached OVC Freshman of the Year Lariah Washington in 2019-20
* Coached one second team All-OVC selection
* Coached one OVC All-Newcomer team selection
* Won first game as EIU head coach on Nov. 18, 2017 against Evansville (W, 79-52)
* Eastern Illinois Record (44-71, 28-46 in OVC… 4 years)
* Career Record (387-220 … 19 years)
Prior to Eastern Illinois
* Head coach at University of Illinois (2012-17) … (5 years 61-94)
* Coached honorable mention All-American Karisma Penn (2013)
* Coached team to WNIT appearance in 2013
* Landed back-to-back top 25 recruiting classes
* Team ranked in the top 15 in the nation in steals per game (2015)
* Coached one first team All-Big Ten selection (Karisma Penn)
* Coached two second team All-Big Ten selections
* Coached five honorable mention All-Big Ten selections
* Coached three players to Big Ten All-Freshman team honors
* Team posted 4th largest win in program history with 55-point win over Tennessee State in 2013-14
* Recognized as the 2015 Kay Yow Heart of a Coach Award
* Head coach at University of Wisconsin Green Bay (2007-12) … (5 years 148-19)
* Coached team to five straight post-season appearances with NCAA berths in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012
* Coached teams to 25 or more wins in all five seasons with back-to-back 30 win seasons
* Coached team to NCAA Sweet 16 appearance in 2011
* Coached team to NCAA Top 25 National Rankings (highest ranking was No. 9 in 2011 season)
* Coached team to five straight Horizon League Championships (85-5 Horizon League record)
* Named Horizon League Coach of the Year four times
* Coached eight first team All-Horizon League Players
* Coached six second team All-Horizon League Players
* Coached three Horizon League Players of the Year (Kayla Tetschlag, Celeste Hoewisch, Julia Wojta)
* Coached All-American and Wade Trophy Finalist – Julia Wojta
* Coached two honorable mention All-Americans – Rachel Porath and Celeste Hoewisch
* Head coach at Bryan (Tenn.) College (2002-07) … 5 years (134-36)
* Coached team to five post-season appearances, four straight NAIA Tournaments
* Coached team to NAIA Sweet 16 appearance in 2006
* Coached four Appalachian Athletic Conference Players of the Year
* Coached three NAIA All-Americans (Brittany Swanson (2) and Sarah Bass)
* Coached seven first team All-AAC selections
* Assistant coach at Indiana University (2000-02) under HC Kathi Bennett
* Helped coach Indiana to 2002 Big Ten Tournament Championship
* Assistant coach at University of Evansville (1997-2000) under HC Kathi Bennett
* Helped coach Evansville to the 1999 NCAA Tournament
* Head coach at Tigerton (Wis.) High School (1994-97) … (3 years 63-10)
* Won three Central Wisconsin Conference Small School titles
* Varsity coach at Depper Life Academy in Philipinnes
