Mariah LaPointe-Dunham has been named head coach of the Finlandia University women’s basketball team.
LaPointe-Dunham comes to Finlandia after two years with AAU Level UP Express Basketball. She started the program in March, 2017 with two teams (23 athletes) and grew it to five teams (45) athletes in 2018.
“Mariah is a great addition to our coaching staff,” said athletic director Curtis Wittenberg. “Her success in building the Level UP Express basketball program in a short period of time will carry over to our women’s basketball program. This program, under Mariah’s leadership, will bring in the top DIII talent out of the UP and northern Wisconsin.”
LaPointe-Dunham was a four-year starter at Watertown High School (Wis.). She helped the Goslings win four regional championships and as a sophomore they reached the Division I State Championship game. LaPointe-Dunham was A.P. State Player of the Year as a senior and is the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1684 points.
“I’d like to thank President Johnson and Curtis Wittenberg for this opportunity,” said LaPointe-Dunham. “Coach Mo left the program better than he found it and I am certainly ready to bring it to another level. The young ladies here at Finlandia are amazing and accepted me instantly. I am ready to lead them, challenge them and show them what Finlandia University has to offer.”
LaPointe-Dunham earned three letters as a student-athlete at the University of Wisconsin. As a freshman she helped the Badgers reach the WNIT championship game.
LaPointe-Dunham played her senior year at Northern Michigan University. She averaged 14.1 points and 5.2 rebounds a game and helped the Wildcats advance to the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Semi-Finals. LaPointe-Dunham was a GLIAC second team and earned a B.S. in Communication Studies.
Following graduation, LaPointe-Dunham was a volunteer coach at Finlandia as well as coaching girl’s and boy’s basketball at Baraga High School (Mich.). She was an assistant coach at Lake Superior State (2013-14) and Northern Michigan (2014-16). During LaPointe-Dunham’s tenure at NMU, the Wildcats qualified for the GLIAC Tournament both years.
LaPointe-Dunham is finishing up a MS degree in Public Administration from Northern Michigan. She resides in Marquette (MI) with her wife, Brigitte LaPointe, who played basketball at Finlandia.
LaPointe-Dunham replaces John Motherwell who left to be an assistant coach at North Dakota.
Photo courtesy Finlandia Athletics
https://fulions.com/news/2018/8/31/lapointe-dunham-set-to-lead-finlandia-womens-basketball.aspx
Tagged with: DIII
