University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women’s basketball coach, Tonja Englund, has announced the hiring of Jolene Anderson and Mark Noll as assistant coaches for the 2025-26 season.
Jolene, a 2018 UW-Madison Hall of Fame Inductee, joins the staff after a decorated playing career for the Badgers, the Connecticut Sun (WNBA), multiple European leagues and other global professional experience. During her collegiate tenure from 2004 to 2008, Anderson became the all-time leading scorer for the Badgers — men’s or women’s — with 2,312 points. She earned numerous accolades, including Big Ten Conference Player of the Year in 2008, Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2004, Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award recipient, and two-time First Team All-Big Ten honors. Anderson was an avid member of Team USA and their FIBA U19, U20, and U21 teams, including winning a gold medal with Team USA in 2005-2007.
Following her collegiate success, Anderson was selected in the second round (23rd overall) of the 2008 WNBA Draft by the Connecticut Sun and later enjoyed 17 years of professional playing experience in Europe and beyond.
The South Shore native now teaches in the Eau Claire Area School District after teaching and coaching at South Shore High School last year.
Bringing over 35 years of coaching experience at the collegiate, AAU, and youth levels, Mark Noll adds a wealth of knowledge and championship-caliber experience to the Blugold coaching staff.
Noll served as the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at the University of Dubuque for 13 seasons (2007–2020), where he became the all-time winningest coach in program history. During his tenure, he guided the Spartans to unprecedented success, including capturing the first-ever Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (now American Rivers Conference) Championship in school history.
Prior to his time at the University of Dubuque, Noll spent seven seasons as the Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach at the University of Wisconsin–Stout (1996–1998, 2002–2007). His contributions were instrumental in the program’s historic success, including helping UW–Stout capture four WIAC Conference Championships, make four NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, and reach the Sweet 16 twice.
Beyond the collegiate level, Noll has been a cornerstone in the development of elite youth basketball talent as a longtime coach, coordinator, and promoter for the Team Wisconsin/Viking Club Girls AAU Basketball Program, one of the premier AAU programs in the nation. His player development track record includes athletes who have gone on to become Big Ten Freshmen of the Year, NCAA All-Americans, USA Basketball Team members, including WNBA and professional players.
Noll has also served as the Head Boys’ basketball coach at Colfax High for four years and he also played on a National Championship team at Mount Scenario College in 1991.
The Blugolds open their 2025-26 season on Saturday, November 8 when they host their annual Tip Off Tournament. UWEC will face Lakeland University at 5 p.m. at the Sonnentag Event Center.
https://blugolds.com/news/2025/10/24/anderson-and-noll-join-womens-basketball-staff.aspx
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