Oklahoma City University has selected Kris Seigenthaler as its head women’s basketball coach.
Seigenthaler arrives at Oklahoma City after a successful stint as an assistant coach at Loyola (La.).
“We are extremely excited that Kris agreed to lead our women’s basketball program,” Oklahoma City athletic director Corey Bray said. “Her experience at multiple NAIA programs that achieved national rankings and NAIA Tournament appearances will provide a strong foundation as she directs our women’s basketball program to continued national prominence. Her three-dimensional coaching philosophy – which focuses on academic success, athletic success and leadership development – aligns nicely with our efforts to help OCU student-athletes be more than champions in the classroom, in the community and in competition. Please join me in welcoming Kris to the OCU athletics family and to the #HomeOfChampions.”
In four seasons with Loyola, Seigenthaler helped the Wolf Pack sweep the Southern States Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships for two consecutive years. Loyola advanced to the NAIA Championship Tournament and posted 20-win seasons all four years. The Wolf Pack went 91-22 (.805 winning percentage) with her contributions.
Seigenthaler coached four NAIA all-Americans, two Women’s Basketball Coaches Association all-Americans as well as student-athletes who won conference player of the year, defensive player of the year, newcomer of the year, sixth man of the year and two conference tournament most valuable player awards at Loyola.
In women’s basketball, Oklahoma City has won nine national championships (1988, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2017) and finished national runner-up four times (2003, 2004, 2005 and 2019). The Stars were 21-14 the past two seasons under Brett Tahah.
“I am extremely excited and humbled to be the head coach at Oklahoma City University,” Seigenthaler said. “The tradition of OCU athletics is rich in championship history, and I look forward to continuing that legacy. Thank you to OCU and athletic director Corey Bray for entrusting me to lead the women’s basketball program. I am excited to get to Oklahoma City and connect with the team as we prepare for the pursuit of our 10th national championship. I am committed to building a program of integrity that focuses on graduating, competing at a national level, and building leaders for the future.”
Prior to joining the Loyola coaching staff, Seigenthaler spent two years as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Auburn University at Montgomery (Ala.). She assisted with the school’s transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference after being a member of the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) for 17 years. While with the Warhawks in 2017, she was also recognized by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association on its Thirty Under 30 list.
Before her tenure with Auburn Montgomery, Seigenthaler was an assistant coach at Faulkner (Ala.) for three seasons from 2013-16. The Eagles achieved as high as a No. 14 ranking in the NAIA during her time as an assistant coach. The team also made the WBCA’s list of the top 25 academic programs in the NAIA with Seigenthaler as the personal academic counselor for the student-athletes.
The Tennessee native earned her master’s degree from Shorter (Ga.), where she was a graduate assistant coach with the women’s basketball team from 2011-13. The program reached the Round of 16 in the 2012 NAIA Division I Championship Tournament.
Seigenthaler received a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Montevallo, where she lettered in women’s basketball for four years and served as the team captain during her senior season.
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