Longtime St. Scholastica women’s basketball head coach Stacy Deadrick will step down from her coaching role and will assume the role of Assistant Director of Athletics of Facilities and Event Management, Senior Women’s Administrator and Title IX Deputy, the school announced on Thursday.
Deadrick guided the women’s basketball program for the last 27 years, recording 324 victories. Deadrick coached the Saints to their first-ever NCAA Division III Tournament appearance in 2012-13. That season, the Saints entered the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Tournament as the No. 4 seed and defeated top-seeded University of Minnesota Morris in overtime in the semifinals and third-seeded Martin Luther College in the championship all on the road.
In 2013-14, Deadrick led the Saints to a program-record 11 UMAC victories and tied for the second-most wins overall (16) in her time at CSS. For her efforts, she was named the UMAC Coach of the Year. She matched that 11-win UMAC total again in 2014-15.
During the 2001-02 season, Deadrick and her Saints won the program’s first UMAC Tournament title and played in the NAIA National Tournament. Her 2003-04 squad finished one point shy of a repeat NAIA tournament appearance.
In her tenure, Deadrick coached 29 First Team All-UMAC performers, three-time UMAC Player of the Year Jackie Plesha, 10 NAIA All-American Scholar-Athletes and 101 Academic All-UMAC honorees.
“I am so very grateful for the opportunity I’ve had working with so many amazing players and outstanding coaches,” said Deadrick. I was blessed, for 27 years, to be able to coach a sport I love and to see so many young women grow and evolve into the amazing people they are today. I look forward to continuing to support the women’s basketball program and our department in an administrative role as we venture into a new chapter. Thank you to the alumni for all they have done for our program and I hope you continue to stay connected and support our next coach the way you have so graciously supported me.”
As a player, Deadrick, then Pelletier, played at St. Scholastica from 1987-1991. She was a starter on the 1987-88 NLCAA National Championship team. That team was inducted into the CSS Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012. She also earned NLCAA All-American honors as a junior and was an NAIA All-District selection for the 1989-90 and 1990-91 seasons. Deadrick finished her playing career at St. Scholastica as the leader in steals (436) and currently ranks fifth in assists (265) and 11th in scoring (1,036 points).
“We are fortunate to be keeping Stacy’s knowledge and history within our department,” said interim Director of Athletics Merissa Edwards. “She has been a valuable asset to Saints Athletics for multiple decades. Stacy will forever be connected to the women’s basketball program, not only as a player, but also as a legendary coach in women’s athletics.”
A national search to find St. Scholastica’s next Head Women’s Basketball Coach will begin immediately.
