The Oral Roberts University athletic department has signed Kelsi Musick to be the 11th head coach of the women’s basketball program, it was announced Thursday by Athletic Director Tim Johnson.
A native of Canton, Oklahoma, Kelsi Musick, joins the ORU athletic department after 13 seasons as head coach at Southwestern Oklahoma State University where she led the Lady Bulldogs to the NCAA Division II National Championship game in 2019.
“Today is a great day for our women’s basketball program as we have signed Coach Kelsi Musick to be our new head coach,” Athletic Director Tim Johnson said. “Coach Musick has shown consistently why she is one of the best coaches in the game with her leadership on and off the court. Her records, player development, success in recruiting and trip to the National Championship in 2019 have proven why she is one of the top coaches in the country. I have no doubt and am confident ORU women’s basketball will reach the peak of the Summit League with Coach Musick, as we are focused on elevating the program to compete for championships while building a championship culture and developing young women in mind, body and spirit. We’re excited to have her join the Golden Eagle family!”
Musick has taken the Lady Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament seven times that includes one regional championship and four GAC Tournament Championships. Musick averaged 18.3 wins per season with eight 20-win seasons in six of her last seven campaigns with four straight from 2015-19. Over the past three seasons, Musick’s teams have had a record of 90-12 (.882) which were the three highest-win totals at SWOSU in the NCAA era.
During her time at SWOSU, Musick became one of the nation’s best coaches in Division II history. She has managed a 259-125 (.674) overall record and a 182-74 (.710) record in conference play with two seasons in the Lone Star Conference and the other nine in the Great American Conference.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kelsi to the ORU Family,” ORU President, Dr. William M. Wilson said. “This was an intense search process, and she distinguished herself with a strong Christian-value system, an infectious passion for the sport, along with an understanding of the necessity for forging genuine relationships with the student-athletes. ORU is committed to developing leaders both on and off the court. Kelsi is a rising star in the coaching sector and a proven winner.”
The Lady Bulldogs have ranked in the top ten nationally in scoring offense in seven of the past nine seasons, averaging more than 80 points per game in five of those campaigns. In 2021-22, the team averaged 82.1 points per game to rank third in the country. The Lady Bulldogs have been in the top ten in three-pointers made five times in the past eight seasons including third with 9.5 per game last season. In 2021-22, Musick coached sophomore Makyra Tramble to be the Ron Lenz National Player of the Year and a two-time All-American. SWOSU ended the season at No. 2 in the central region ranking and No. 23 nationally.
In 2018-19, she led the Lady Bulldogs to their best season. The team won 35 consecutive games and advanced to the NCAA National Championship game. SWOSU finished the year with a school-record 35 victories, becoming the first team to win the Great American Conference Championship undefeated before winning the GAC Tournament and the school’s first Central Regional Championship. For her efforts, Musick was named the GAC Coach of the Year for the second straight year. During her time at SWOSU, she’s been named GAC Coach of the Year five times.
Prior to SWOSU, Musick was an assistant coach at Fresno State where she was part of consecutive 20-win seasons. Fresno State won the Western Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles and finished 24-9 and to advance to the NCAA Tournament in 2008-09.
Musick played collegiately at Cameron University where she set school records in career three-point average and assists. Her final season in 2001-02, the Aggies set a school record for most wins (25) and made their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Musick is married to her husband, Josh Musick, and together they have two sons, Maddox and Titus and one daughter Amaria.
An introductory press conference to welcome Head Coach Kelsi Musick will be held Friday, April 22 at 3 p.m. inside ORU’s Global Learning Center.
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