UT Dallas Director of Athletics Angela Marin has announced the hiring of Joe Shotland as just the third head coach in the history of the Comet women’s basketball program. Shotland will begin his duties at UTD on Monday, July 11.
A native of Dallas, Shotland will be returning to the Metroplex after spending the past seven seasons as the assistant women’s basketball coach at Trinity University in San Antonio. While at Trinity, Joe was part of a coaching staff that led the Tigers to five conference titles, two trips to the NCAA D-III “Sweet 16” and an appearance in the NCAA D-III “Elite 8” this past spring. From 2015-22, Trinity boasted an impressive 156-27 overall record and made seven consecutive trips to the SCAC title game. Shotland was named the 2017-18 Small College Assistant Coach of the Year by the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC).
“We are excited to welcome Joe Shotland to our Comet family,” said Marin. “Joe has a history of success at the national level and his knowledge and passion for the game is second to none. He brings a level of intensity that is unmatched and understands the demands of a high academic institution. I look forward to watching him grow and build his own legacy as a head coach.”
A two-sport all-district performer at Bishop Lynch High School, Shotland played four seasons at Trinity from 2010-14, serving as team captain as a senior, and helped guide the Tigers to three SCAC titles during his career. He was a four-time selection to the SCAC Academic Honor Roll and chosen to the NABC Men’s Honor Court as a senior. Also as a senior, he was named to the SCAC All-Sportsmanship Team.
“I would like to thank Angela Marin and the search committee for the distinct opportunity to lead the UT Dallas women’s basketball program,” said Shotland. “It is such an exciting time to be at UTD with the momentum that is building on campus. As someone who has competed against UTD for over a decade, I cannot wait to be a part of their winning culture and continue to build on the success that has been taking place on the women’s basketball team. My wife and I are looking forward to being a part of the UTD community and contributing to student-athletes having amazing college experiences.”
Upon graduating summa cum laude from Trinity with a bachelor’s degree in English in 2014, he went on to serve as a graduate assistant for the Tigers women’s program for the 2014-15 season, collecting his master’s degree in Teaching. Shotland was selected to deliver the student keynote address at the 2014 Trinity Commencement ceremony.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t say thank you to all the people that were a part of the Trinity program while I was there,” continued Shotland. “They believed in me and allowed me to grow as a coach. I am better for my time there and I am very grateful for that community.”
Shotland replaces longtime Comet head coach Polly Thomason, who led UTD from 2005-22, guiding her program to 16 straight trips to the ASC Tournament with four league titles and six appearing in the NCAA D-III National Championship. Thomason had a 330-126 overall record in her 17 seasons with the Comets after Rachelle Leonard started the program in 1998-99. Leonard had a 52-120 record in the first seven seasons of the program’s existence.
The Comets posted a 15-8 overall record in 2021-22, advancing to the ASC title game for the fifth time in program history.
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