Michigan State University head women’s basketball coach Suzy Merchant announced the return of Julie (Pagel) Dombroski as the Director of Basketball Operations and Technology, while Alysiah Bond transitions to assistant coach.
Dombroski returns to Michigan State after two seasons as Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Oakland University. She had previously spent seven seasons at MSU as the Director of Basketball Operations and Technology. Bond spent last season with the Spartans’ in the same role.
– Julie Dombroski –
Dombroski, a four-year letterwinner at Michigan State from 2001-04, spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Oakland University. She also was recruiting coordinator for the Grizzlies.
“I am humbled and honored to return to my alma mater. This is an exciting opportunity, and I am looking forward to once again representing the Spartan women’s basketball program and Spartan athletics,” Dombroski said. “There is no better time than now to be a Spartan. I extend the greatest of gratitude to the Michigan State administration, Coach Merchant and the rest of the Spartan family for providing me the opportunity to once again be a part of the program’s bright future.”
Prior to Oakland, she was the Director of Basketball Operations at her alma mater for seven seasons from 2007-2014. During her first stint at MSU, Dombroski handled numerous duties, including being the liaison to the Fast Break Club, handling team travel and assisting in fundraising efforts, including donor events. She helped lead the Spartans to Big Ten regular-season titles in 2011 and 2014.
“We are so thrilled to have Julie back in the Spartan family. Julie is a true Spartan and an ambassador to our program, and we are blessed to have her and her family back in East Lansing,” Merchant said.
Prior to becoming part of the Michigan State staff, Dombroski spent three seasons at University of Detroit. She served as the Titans’ graduate assistant in 2004-05, was promoted to assistant coach in the summer of 2005, and was promoted again in 2006 to serve as the recruiting coordinator. While at Detroit, she worked with all aspects of the Titan program, including recruiting, travel plans and on-floor coaching.
A 2004 graduate of MSU, Dombroski concluded her four-year Spartan career as one of only three players in school history to rank in the top 20 in career points and top 10 in career rebounds and steals. She scored 952 career points and is 10th all-time in free throws made with 282. As a freshman in 2000-01, Dombroski led the Spartans in rebounds, collecting 219 for a 7.9 per-game average. She also led the team in steals with 54.
She and her husband Jason have two children, Gibson, 6, and Jackson, 7 months.
– Alysiah Bond –
Bond, who played in the NCAA Final Four at Ohio State, has a vast background in women’s basketball. She spent last season as the Director of Basketball Operations and Technology, coordinating travel, working on budgets and assisting in fundraising. This is her second stint in the Big Ten, as she was an assistant basketball coach at Wisconsin from 2011-2015.
“Having Alysiah transition in this new role as an assistant coach is exciting. She is so energetic and will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program,” Merchant said. “We look forward to her involvement in developing our guard play, especially the point guard position as she was a tremendous point guard that led her team to a Final Four.”
Prior to returning to her Big Ten roots at Wisconsin, Bond was the Director of Basketball Operations at Arizona from 2008-2011. She was also an assistant coach at Central Florida from 2007-08. At UCF, Bond was responsible for the development of the perimeter players, scouting and recruiting. Before her time with the Knights, she was an assistant coach at Murray State and spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Tennessee State.
“Michigan State has proven to be a truly special place, and I am extremely grateful to Coach Merchant for entrusting me to contribute to the growth, development and mentorship of our outstanding student-athletes on and off the basketball court,” Bond said. “Coaching provides an amazing platform to enrich and positively impact young women. It has always been my goal to do so, regardless of job title. Our program is consistently one of the best in the country, and I am excited for what lies ahead. I fully look forward to the challenge of my new responsibilities and to the continued opportunity to support and serve the Spartan family. Go Green!”
From 1998-2001, Bond served as the Director of Women’s Basketball Operations at Tennessee under Hall of Fame head coach Pat Summitt. She also held the position of Director of Special Programs for USA Basketball from 1997-98.
In addition to her coaching and administrative background, Bond has extensive experience in sports broadcasting. She served as a color analyst for Lady Vols telecasts from 2000-03 and OSU women’s basketball radio broadcasts during the 2003-04 season. She also worked as a sports anchor, reporter and producer at NBC affiliates in both Knoxville, Tennessee and Columbus, Ohio.
A native of Los Angeles, California, Bond played point guard at Ohio State for four seasons, helping the Buckeyes advance to the NCAA championship game in 1993. She was named OSU’s best defensive player and was a team captain during her last two seasons. She graduated from Ohio State in 1995 with a degree in marketing.
Bond replaces NcKell Copeland, who resigned to pursue other opportunities.
http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/071516aab.html
Tagged with: DI MSU Staff Update
