Story: AJ Nelson, Senior Staff Writer, WHoopDirt.com
BOSTON, MA – The following women’s college basketball coaches have been honored with the Week 9 WHoopDirt.com Coach of the Week Award, presented by Just Play Solutions. These coaches are now eligible for the WHoopDirt.com National Coach of the Year Award, presented by Just Play Solutions, which will be announced at the conclusion of the 2025-26 college basketball season.
This marks the sixth season of WHoopDirt.com’s Coach of the Week and Coach of the Year programs. This week’s winners are listed below, followed by all previous weekly honorees from earlier in the season.
To nominate coaches for future weeks, please email [email protected] with your selection(s).
The Week 9 winners are:
NCAA D1: Destinee Rogers – Arkansas State University
Coach Rogers’ Red Wolves continued their impressive season this past week, winning two more games to improve to 16-4 (7-1 Sun Belt) on the campaign. Arkansas State began its week with a stifling defensive performance against Louisiana, forcing 39 turnovers and picking up 28 steals in a 75-34 victory on Thursday. The 39 forced turnovers were A-State’s most since 1996, and the 28 steals tied the Sun Belt record for a league game. Returning to the hardwood on Saturday, the Red Wolves held Southern Miss to 1-18 from three in an 81-71 triumph. Arkansas State’s 16-4 record through 20 games is the program’s best start in a decade, and fourth-best all time. The Red Wolves homestand will continue on Wednesday morning, when they host Old Dominion at 11AM.
NCAA D2: Emilee Thiesse – Minnesota State University, Mankato
With two more victories this past week, Coach Thiesse has led the Mavericks to their longest single-season winning streak in program history. On Friday, No. 2 Minnesota State fended off a late comeback attempt from Minnesota Duluth to emerge with an 81-78 victory – just their second single-digit win of the season. Back in action the following day, the Mavericks had a much easier time with Bemidji State, using a 35-12 second quarter to grab a 94-69 win. The triumph improved Minnesota State’s record to 18-0 on the campaign, marking the first time in program history that the Mavericks have won 18 straight contests in a single season. Minnesota State will look to extend the record when it hosts Northern State on Friday.
NCAA D3: Maureen Hirt – Denison University
Coach Hirt led Denison to its first win over a ranked opponent in almost 10 years this past week as the Big Red remained perfect on the season. Then-No. 15 Denison began its week hot, jumping out to a 63-28 halftime lead in a 93-56 win over Oberlin on Wednesday. The Big Red then hit the road for a battle with then-No. 10 John Carroll on Saturday afternoon. The game was closely contested for much of the way, but the visitors used a 15-4 fourth quarter to pull away and take an impressive 58-41 victory for their first ranked victory since the 2016-17 campaign. The 16-0 (5-0 NCAC) Big Red were rewarded for their efforts this past week with a big jump in the D3hoops.com Top-25 rankings, moving from No. 15 to No. 8 in the latest poll. Denison will look to remain unbeaten when it hosts Wittenburg on Wednesday evening.
NAIA: Jessica Garriga – William Carey University
Following another two win week, Coach Garriga’s Lady Crusaders now stand alone as the only unbeaten team remaining in NAIA women’s basketball. No. 19 William Carey defeated Thomas 69-52 on Thursday before taking down Abraham Baldwin 84-51 on Saturday. These wins, coupled with Freed-Hardeman’s loss on Thursday, made the Lady Crusaders the last team in NAIA women’s basketball yet to lose this season. In her first season at the helm, Coach Garriga has guided William Carey to a perfect 16-0 (7-0 SSAC) record, with 11 wins coming by double digits. She will look to keep the Lady Crusaders rolling when they host Brewton-Parker on Thursday.
JUCO: Chelsey Warburton – Utah State University Eastern
Coach Warburton led USU Eastern to a pair of road wins, including one over a top-10 opponent, this week as the Eagles took sole possession of first place in the Scenic West Athletic Conference. USU Eastern stifled North Idaho’s offense on Thursday, holding the hosts to just 32.7% from the field in a 58-46 victory. Back in action on Saturday afternoon, the Eagles found themselves locked in a battle with No. 9 College of Southern Idaho. After the first three quarters were each decided by one point or fewer, USU Eastern was able to create some separation in the final 10 minutes to come away with a 77-71 triumph. Now 14-6 (5-0 SWAC) on the season and riding a five game winning streak, the Eagles will kick off a three game homestand with a matchup against Snow on Thursday evening.
2025-26 WHoopDirt.com / Just Play Solutions Coach of the Week Winners
NCAA DI: Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
NCAA DII: Tim Kirby – Harding University
NCAA DIII: Melissa Smeltzer-Kraft – Shenandoah University
NAIA: Bill Harmsen – Dordt University
JUCO: Jaleel Taylor – Union College (NJ)
NCAA DI: Vic Schaefer – University of Texas
NCAA DII: Johnette Walker – Newberry College
NCAA DIII: Meg Barber – New York University
NAIA: DeWayne Burroughs – Shawnee State University
JUCO: Nicole Collier – State Fair Community College
NCAA DI: Molly Miller – Arizona State University
NCAA DII: Tasha Diesselhorst – Northwestern Oklahoma State University
NCAA DIII: Megan Phelps – Bowdoin College
NAIA: DeWitt Mandley – Wiley University
JUCO: Damel Ling – Monroe University – Bronx
NCAA DI: Linda Cimino – Dartmouth College
NCAA DII: Travis Ponton – Queens College
NCAA DIII: Julie Prichett – Brandeis University
NAIA: David Moe – Dakota State University
JUCO: Madonna Thompson – Shelton State Community College
NCAA DI: Krista Gerlich – Texas Tech University
NCAA DII: Heather Macy – Nova Southeastern University
NCAA DIII: Gabby Holko – Susquehanna University
NAIA: Suntana Anderson – Marian University (IN)
JUCO: Mitch Rolls – Chipola College
Week 6
Winter Break – No Winners Selected
Week 7
Winter Break – No Winners Selected
NCAA DI: Greg Todd – Eastern Kentucky University
NCAA DII: Emry Tsitouris – Lenoir-Rhyne University
NCAA DIII: Alison Montgomery – Bates College
NAIA: Abby Stutts – Freed-Hardeman University
JUCO: Chelsea Waters – Tallahassee State College
