Following a national search, the University of Wisconsin-Superior and Yellowjacket Athletics have announced the hiring of Emily Carpenter as head women’s basketball coach in a release Thursday.
Carpenter served as the interim head coach of the Yellowjackets in 2022-23. Prior to coming back to her alma mater, Carpenter spent two seasons as an assistant softball coach at Gustavus Adolphus College.
“We are excited to have Coach Carpenter continue leading our women’s basketball program,” UW-Superior Director of Athletics Nick Bursik said. “She has a strong passion for the program and the university to go along with a competitive drive that will help guide the program forward.”
Carpenter was named interim head coach of the Yellowjackets August 11, 2022. In her first season behind the bench, Carpenter coached the Yellowjackets to a record of 10-14, an improvement of four wins and five fewer losses over the previous season. The Yellowjackets were chosen to place sixth in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) in a vote of the league’s coaches, but Carpenter’s Yellowjackets not only made the post-season tournament, but finished in third place in the conference before falling in the conference tournament.
“I would like to thank Nick Bursik and the entire search committee for giving me the opportunity to continue to lead the women’s basketball program, and their continued support and trust to get the job done,” Carpenter said. “I am excited to continue working with the student-athletes and build on the success of the program on and off the court.
“Superior is home to me and I am grateful to be part of the Yellowjacket community.”
A native of St. Peter, Minn., Carpenter was a two-sport standout for the Yellowjackets, competing in women’s basketball and softball from 2016-2020, helping the Yellowjackets win conference championships and advance to the NCAA tournament in each of her first two years.
She played in 106 games on the hardwood for the Yellowjackets, ranking her fifth in program history. Her 336 assists are second in program history, while she ranks second all-time in three-pointers made (160) and fourth all-time in three-point field-goal percentage (.415).
The Yellowjacket women’s basketball team will open the 2023-24 November 11-12, playing in the Midway Classic, hosted by the University of Chicago.
