Robyn Scherr-Wells, who has shown a knack for revitalizing programs and developing talent, has been hired as the 11th head coach in University of Evansville women’s basketball history. UE Director of Athletics Mark Spencer made the announcement Tuesday.
Scherr-Wells will be introduced as the Purple Aces head coach during a press conference inside Meeks Family Fieldhouse at 3 PM on Tuesday.
“We took this opportunity to do a national search and select a candidate that will lead us to the future,” said Spencer. “We believe Robyn is the perfect fit for UE and the program moving forward.”
Scherr-Wells has head coaching experience, coaching for seven seasons in the NAIA with Roosevelt University and Davenport University, winning six conference championships, while also helping rebuild programs at Florida International University and Davidson College as an assistant coach at the NCAA Division I level. Scherr-Wells comes to Evansville after spending the 2020-21 season as assistant coach at Florida International University, where she was part of a staff that helped lead the Panthers to their best record in nearly a decade.
The Panthers advanced to the postseason last season, earning a berth in the Women’s Basketball Invitational, advancing all the way to the consolation final where FIU captured a 59-58 win over Manhattan on a pair of free throws with less than one second remaining.
Scherr-Wells’ Panthers squad was one of the best offensive teams in the NCAA, averaging 73.7 points per game. FIU finished the 2020-21 season 41st in the nation in scoring offense. Aiding to the Panthers high-scoring offense was an excellent effort from beyond the arc, while also finishing inside the top 25 in NCAA Division I in three-point field goal attempts, total makes, three-point field goals made per game.
“We’re excited to welcome Coach Scherr-Wells to the University of Evansville,” said Evansville President Christopher M. Pietruszkiewicz. “She will make a great addition to the campus family and will help develop student-athletes who excel in the classroom and community, as well as on the court.”
Previous to FIU, Scherr-Wells spent three years as the top assistant at Davidson College where she helped rebuild a program that finished 12th in the Atlantic 10 prior to her arrival to a fourth-place finish in just her second year and aided the program to their first winning season and post-season berth (WBI) in six seasons in 2018-19. At Davidson, she recruited and coached six Atlantic 10 All-Conference Team selections, as well as one Most Improved Player, one Sixth Woman of the Year, and one Rookie of the Year.
“I am thrilled to lead Evansville Women’s Basketball. From the first conversation with the search committee, I knew UE was a perfect fit for me,” said Scherr-Wells. “UE provides our student-athletes the things I value most – uncompromising academics where our players learn in a tight-knit community and receive a highly regarded education, and a first-class athletic experience where winning is valued and expected. I cannot wait for our fans to see how exciting our team will be to watch. I am looking forward to building a winning tradition with our players and to showing our recruits what a special place the University of Evansville is.”
Scherr-Wells has extensive experience in building programs, serving as head coach for both Roosevelt University (Chicago) and Davenport University (Grand Rapids, Mich.). As a head coach, Scherr-Wells amassed a 144-83 (.634) record across seven seasons at the helm of two programs. In conference play, Scherr-Wells record was even more impressive, going 76-26 (.745) and winning three regular season and conference tournament championships.
A native of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Scherr-Wells attended the University of Michigan where she joined the women’s basketball team. With the Wolverines, Scherr-Wells started as a manager/practice player during her freshman season and eventually earned an athletic scholarship as a sophomore for her role in that capacity for the squad. As a member of the Wolverines, Scherr-Wells was part of a team that earned three NCAA Tournament berths and made the postseason in each of her four seasons.
Beginning her coaching journey in 2005, Scherr-Wells returned to where it all started, serving as the administrative assistant for women’s basketball at the University of Michigan. With the Maize & Blue, Scherr-Wells served in various capacities with the team under the mentorship of a familiar face to The Valley. Scherr-Wells worked under Hall of Fame Missouri State Coach Cheryl Burnett, who coached the Lady Bears to eight NCAA Tournaments, including appearances in the Final Four in 1992 and 2001.
A 2001 graduate of the University of Michigan, Scherr-Wells finished with distinction and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Movement Science and Athletic Training. She went on to earn a Master’s Degree of Business Administration from Roosevelt in 2014. She is married to Ryan Wells.
What They’re Saying
“Watching Robyn’s progression in the coaching profession, her continued success throughout her career is not a surprise. From her days as a staff member, Robyn was extremely self-motivated, a brilliant self-starter who took initiative and had a real passion for basketball. The current pinnacle of her career as Head Coach at the University of Evansville in the Missouri Valley Conference is a culmination of her hard work and dedication.”
- Cheryl Burnett, Former Missouri State and University of Michigan Head Coach, MVC Hall of Famer
“Robyn is a true go-getter, a very good evaluator of talent, someone who knows how to teach, but more importantly, someone who knows how to communicate. In this day and age, getting to the hearts of players and parents and helping them understand expectations and roles and how to go about things, Robyn is very good at that. I think if you look at her career, she’s proven she knows how to build a program. You only do that through communication and understanding relationships, and obviously, recruiting and developing talent. I think that’s one thing that Robyn really knows how to do. She knows the work that it takes to be a contributing player to a successful team. Evansville is getting a really good team player in Robyn.”
- Sue Guevara, Retired Coach, Michigan and Central Michigan
“Evansville found the right person to lead its women’s basketball program. Robyn is an experienced program builder, a tireless recruiter, and detailed tactician, who is dedicated to student-athlete success on the court, in the classroom and as part of the community. I witnessed these skills firsthand at Roosevelt where she took a non-existent program and created a nationally-ranked, conference champion that developed student-athletes who optimized their abilities athletically and academically. I know Robyn can have a similar impact at Evansville and I am excited to watch her take this next step in her career.”
- Michael Cassidy, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Athletics, Roosevelt University
” I couldn’t be happier for Robyn and the University of Evansville. The Purple Aces are not only getting a phenomenal coach with great basketball acumen, but someone with an amazing character and heart. I look forward to being a fan during the Scherr-Wells era!”
- Jesyka Burks-Wiley, Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Florida International
