University of Nebraska at Kearney Head Coach Carrie Eighmey has been named the 10th head women’s basketball coach in University of Idaho history, Vandal Director of Athletics Terry Gawlik announced Friday.
“We are thrilled to welcome Carrie and her husband Devin to the Vandal Family,” said Gawlik. “Coach Eighmey is a winner, pure and simple. She has been successful at every step in her career, and has built that success with strong recruiting, hard work, and a passion for preparing young women to be their best selves on and off the court. She is committed to elevating our program through a student-athlete centered approach, and we could not be more excited for the future of Vandal women’s basketball.”
A press conference introducing Coach Eighmey (pronounced amy) will be announced at a later date, but she will be in attendance at tonight’s Vandal Football spring game.
Eighmey joins the Vandals after serving as the head coach at UNK for eight seasons, highlighted by three straight NCAA Division II Tournament appearances from 2021-23, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2021. She made her mark on the program, leading Nebraska-Kearney to its first MIAA championship ever in the 2020-21 season and earning the regular-season title in 2022-23.
“I am thrilled to be the next women’s head coach at the University of Idaho,” Eighmey said. “I want to thank President Scott Green and Terry Gawlik for the opportunity. Devin and I can’t wait to get to Moscow and start working.”
Eighmey brings over 19 years of coaching experience, including 11 as a head coach. She averaged 25 wins per year with seven teams recording 20+ win seasons and tallied a .689 winning percentage.
During the 2022-23 season, Eighmey led the Lopers to their first regular season MIAA conference title in program history. UNK boasted a 28-5 overall record and went 20-2 in conference, earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The MIAA tabbed Eighmey as the conference’s Coach of the Year and earned her WBCA Division II Coach of the Year honors.
“We will focus on creating positive and impactful experiences for our student-athletes on and off the court,” Eighmey continued. “We aim to build a top-tier, highly respected program in the Big Sky and most importantly, make it to the big dance.”
In her first year at UNK, Eighmey made an immediate impact, lifting UNK to their first winning season since 2009. The 2015-16 season saw the Lopers make it to the MIAA conference quarterfinals for the first time in program history.
Eighmey leaves UNK as the Lopers’ second-winningest coach with an overall record of 165-74 (.690). In her last four seasons, she boasted a winning percentage of .815 with 101 wins and 23 losses. She led the team to two MIAA conference titles, one regular season title, and 17 wins over nationally ranked opponents. Eighmey mentored over 20 All-MIAA honorees including two Defensive Players of the Year, three MIAA All-Tournament selections and one MIAA All-Tournament MVP.
Prior to UNK, Eighmey served as head coach at her alma mater, Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska from 2012-15. Under Eighmey, the team had two 20+ win seasons and reached the NAIA Division II Tournament quarterfinals in 2014 and the semifinals in 2015. She had an overall record of 68-31 (.687) and a conference record of 41-19.
Before Eighmey earned the title of head coach, she served eight total years as an assistant coach at Fort Hays State University and Hastings College. Eighmey was the head assistant coach at both institutions for four years each. She began her coaching career at Hastings in 2004 and transitioned over to Fort Hays in 2008.
Eighmey was an accomplished player at Hastings from 2000-2004. She etched her name in the record book as the all-time leader in career assists and steals. She is still ranked ninth in school history with 1,508 career points and fourth with 244 3-point FGs. During her time, the Broncos reached the NAIA Tournament every year, highlighted by national championships in 2002 and 2003. Eighmey earned First Team All-American honors as well.
An Edgar, Nebraska native, Eighmey and her husband Devin are excited to bring their passion for the game to Idaho.
Eighmey will announce her entire basketball staff at a later date.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2004-08: Hastings College (Head Assistant Coach)
2008-12: Fort Hays State University (Head Assistant Coach)
2012-15: Hastings College (Head Coach)
2015-23: University of Nebraska at Kearney (Head Coach)
2023: University of Idaho (Head Coach)
