After guiding the Delta State University women’s basketball team to back-to-back Gulf South Conference regular season championships and an impressive 44-16 record, head coach David Midlick announced his resignation on Thursday, May 22.
"Coach Midlick did an excellent job leading our program and we appreciate his efforts with the Lady Statesmen," DSU director of athletics Ronnie Mayers said. "We will begin a national search to find the next head coach of the Lady Statesmen immediately."
In his first campaign as head coach at Delta State, Midlick led the Lady Statesmen to a 21-10 overall record and an NCAA Sweet 16 finish after advancing to the championship game of the NCAA South Region Tournament. The Green-and-White captured the Gulf South Conference regular season title after finishing conference play 13-5.
The Lady Statesmen marched their way to the title game of the NCAA South Region Tournament with a 51-41 victory over the University of North Alabama and an 81-58 win over the University of Alabama-Huntsville. DSU fell in the title tilt to Nova Southeastern University 78-56.
Midlick’s 21 wins are the most ever by a first year coach of the Lady Statesmen. The legendary Margaret Wade won 16 in her first season at DSU while another DSU legend Lloyd Clark established the previous record of 20 in 1983-84.
Two Lady Statesmen were also recognized as All-Gulf South Conference players, as Rhandi Ball was named to the First Team and Seneca Walton was tabbed for the Second Team.
Guard Chelsey Rhodes was named GSC Freshman of the Year and established a new freshman record for 3-pointers made with 45.
In the 2013-2014 season, Midlick led DSU to a 24-6 overall record and 17-3 conference record, earning his second straight GSC regular season title.
The Lady Statesmen came up short in the GSC Championship game, falling to West Florida, but made their 25th appearance in the NCAA South Region Tournament. DSU climbed as high as No. 9 in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association polls during the season as well.
Midlick put his name in the record book as the head coach with the most wins in his or her first two seasons with 44. Margaret Wade held the previous record with 43 wins.
The Memphis, Tennessee, native brought nine years experience at the NCAA Division I level back to the Mississippi Delta. During his time with Tennessee State and Austin Peay State, Midlick established himself as a great evaluator of talent and once on campus the ability to develop student-athletes into successful players on and off the court.
A national search to find the next head women’s basketball coach is already underway.
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