Shepherd University Vice President for Athletics Chauncey Winbush announced today that Julie Kaufman has been named head women’s basketball coach. Kaufman replaces Jenna Eckleberry, who resigned to take the head coaching job at Frostburg State.
“We are very excited to name Julie Kaufman our new head women’s basketball coach,” said Winbush. “Julie brings a ton of experience from all divisions of college basketball as well as an infectious excitement for the game, our institution, and most importantly for the overall student-athlete experience. With the support of our institution, community, and alumni, I am sure Julie will be extremely successful in her new role.”
Kaufman, a former assistant coach for the Rams, comes back to Shepherd after spending the past three seasons as an assistant at Mount St. Mary’s. She helped lead the Mount to back-to-back NEC Championship titles and a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances in 2020-21 and 2021-22.
“I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to come back to Shepherd as the next head coach. I want to thank President Hendrix, Vice President for Athletics Chauncey Winbush, and the committee for trusting me to lead the women’s basketball team,” said Kaufman. “I am excited to provide a positive environment that challenges our players on-and-off the basketball court. I am confident that my staff and I will create a culture for our young women to compete and be successful. I want to graciously thank my family and the small circle of people who have supported me throughout the years and who continue to assist me in my journey. I cannot wait to get to work and reconnect with the Shepherd community and our student-athletes!”
Prior to working at the Mount, Kaufman spent the 2016-17 season as an assistant coach at Niagara University.
Kaufman worked as an assistant coach from 2013-16 at Seton Hill University where she primarily worked to help develop the team’s post players.
Kaufman served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Shepherd from 2011-13. In her final season at Shepherd, the Rams were ranked 14th in the nation in scoring offense and 17th in field goal percentage.
Kaufman began her collegiate coaching career at Hood College as a graduate assistant from 2008-11. Prior to her time at Hood, she served as the assistant varsity coach and assistant track and field coach at Southern Guilford High School from 2006-08, and at Damascus High from 2005-06.
Kaufman played basketball at Catawba College, where she helped lead her squad to a pair of conference championships and two NCAA Division II regional appearances.
Kaufman earned her bachelor’s degree in physical education from Catawba in 2005. She added a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Hood in 2011.
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