After four years at the helm of the University of Findlay women’s basketball program, head coach Michele Durand has decided to step down from her role, retiring from the coaching profession.
“We are incredibly grateful to Coach Durand for the passion and energy she poured into the Findlay women’s basketball program,” said Director of Athletics Jim Givens. “Her deep commitment to the personal and athletic growth of our student-athletes was always at the heart of her work here at UF. We are thankful for all she has contributed and wish her success and happiness as she enters retirement.”
Coach Durand took over the program in 2022 and led the Oilers to Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Tournament appearances in her final three seasons, reaching the conference semifinals this past campaign. In the 2024-25 season, Findlay finished the year 20-10, the first 20-win season in six years, and reached as high as seventh in the Midwest Regional ranking, narrowly missing out on an NCAA Tournament berth.
While at Findlay, Durand led the program to 57 wins, adding to what has been an illustrious career in college basketball. In 34 seasons of coaching at the Division II and Division III levels, Durand has picked up 511 wins, won five conference regular-season titles, won two conference tournament titles, and has made four NCAA tournament appearances.
Under Durand’s leadership, the Oilers have had two all-G-MAC players in each of the previous three seasons including a first-team recipient in each of those years.
In her previous two stops, Durand spent 18 years at Ohio Northern and 11 seasons at Bluffton where she piled up 454 wins. She spent 1991-2020 in coaching, along with other various administrative roles, before spending a couple of years as a full-time athletics administrator at ONU. She then returned to coaching full time in 2022 at Findlay.
Givens continued, “Midway through April already, I am working diligently to find the new leader of our program. It is important that we be thorough but move to expedite the process so that whoever takes over can begin building relationships to retain and recruit our current and future Oilers.”
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