Story: AJ Nelson, Senior Staff Writer, WHoopDirt.com
BOSTON, MA – The following women’s college basketball coaches have been honored with the Week 15 WHoopDirt.com Coach of the Week Award, presented by FastBreak PlayBook. These coaches are now eligible for the prestigious WHoopDirt.com National Coach of the Year Award, presented by FastBreak PlayBook, which will be announced at the conclusion of the 2024-25 college basketball season.
This year, WHoopDirt.com has partnered with FastBreak PlayBook to bring even more value to the Coach of the Week program. As part of the collaboration, each weekly winner will receive a complimentary Full-Team Annual Membership to the FastBreak PlayBook platform.
“FastBreak PlayBook is very excited to partner with WhoopDirt for the Coach of the Week Award. We are passionate about bringing a spotlight to deserving women’s basketball coaches and look forward to providing a free Full-Team Annual Membership to each winner.” – Kendall Acho, Chief Operating Officer
This marks the fifth season of WHoopDirt.com’s Coach of the Week and Coach of the Year programs. The list of 2024-25 weekly winners, as well as the all-time COY recipients can be found below this week’s release.
To nominate coaches for future weeks, please email [email protected] with your selection(s).
The Week 15 winners are:
D1: Lindsay Gottlieb – University of Southern California
Coach Gottlieb’s Trojans handed the top-ranked team in the nation its first loss this week as they improved to 13-1 in the Big 10 on the season. Then-No. 6 USC opened its week on Thursday by hosting then-No. 1 UCLA, who entered the matchup with a perfect 23-0 record. The Trojans trailed by five entering the fourth quarter, but outscored the visitors 24-8 in the period to come away with a 71-60 triumph. The win marked the program’s first over the AP No. 1 team since 1983. USC then hit the road after the big win, rebounding from a 12-point first-half deficit to defeat Washington 69-64 on Sunday. Now 23-2 (13-1 Big 10) on the season, the now-4th ranked Trojans will host No. 19 Michigan State on Wednesday.
NCAA D2: C White – Bentley University
Coach White’s Bentley squad showcased its trademark defense this week, stifling a pair of opponents’ offenses en route to two victories. The No. 4 Falcons clinched at least a share of first place in the NE10 with a 69-53 win over Franklin Pierce on Wednesday. They claimed the title for themselves in their next contest – a 50-45 road victory over Saint Anselm on Saturday. The win also extended Bentley’s winning streak to 20 as the Falcons improved to 24-1 (16-1 NE10) on the season. They will return to action on Wednesday evening when they visit Saint Michael’s.
NCAA D3: Alexa Shields – United States Merchant Marine Academy
Coach Shields’ Mariners picked up another pair of victories this week, clinching the Skyline Conference regular season title and extending their winning streak to 21 in the process. USMMA began its week on Tuesday, defeating Sarah Lawrence 83-34 at home to claim the regular season conference title. The Mariners found themselves in a much closer contest on Saturday, out-rebounding Mount St. Mary 55-37 in a 68-62 overtime victory on the road. With the win, USMMA improved to 22-1 (19-0 Skyline) on the season. Remarkably, the Mariners did not earn a vote in the latest D3hoops.com Top-25 Poll despite their impressive record. They will close out the regular season by hosting Mount St. Vincent on Wednesday.
NAIA: Andre Bell – Stephens College
Coach Bell led Stephens to a trio of wins this week as the Stars extended their winning streak to five. Stephens jumped out to a 47-11 halftime lead over Hannibal-LaGrange on Tuesday and never looked back, picking up a 97-29 victory. Back in action on Thursday, the Stars shot 77.8% from the field in the fourth quarter to secure a 68-57 triumph over William Woods. Stephens then closed out the week on Saturday by visiting (RV) Columbia College, who the Stars had never defeated on the road. Stephens took control early and remained in command the entire game, taking a 67-54 victory and handing the hosts just their third loss of the season. Now 18-8 (15-5 AMC) on the season, the Stars will host the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy on Thursday.
JUCO: Dan Savage – College of Southern Nevada
Coach Savage’s Coyotes outscored their three opponents by over a combined 100 points this week as they improved to 19-7 on the season. CSN played all three of its games this week on the road, first defeating Central Arizona 83-66 on Wednesday. The Coyotes then traveled to Community Christian College for a pair of games over the weekend. They shot an impressive 65.2% from the field in an 87-41 win on Friday. CSN then managed to top that shooting performance the following day’s rematch, going 52-72 (72.2%) from the field in a 114-62 victory. The Coyotes will look to pick up win No. 20 on the season when they visit Yavapai on Saturday afternoon.
2024-25 WHoopDirt.com / FastBreak PlayBook Coach of the Week Winners
Week 1
Early season – no winners selected.
NCAA DI: Kenny Brooks – University of Kentucky
NCAA DII: Buffie Burson – University of North Georgia
NCAA DIII: Laurie Kelly – Gustavus Adolphus College
NAIA: Bill Harmsen – Dordt University
JUCO: Mike Seney – CCBC Essex
NCAA DI: Geno Auriemma – UConn
NCAA DII: Danielle Fleming – PennWest Clarion
NCAA DIII: Lindsay Schultz – Carroll University
NAIA: Hannah Moeller – Mid-American Christian University
JUCO: Austin Mefford – New Mexico Junior College
NCAA DI: Kara Lawson – Duke University
NCAA DII: Rick Neumann – University of Mary
NCAA DIII: Mia Smith – Illinois Wesleyan University
NAIA: NaJarius Green – Columbia College
JUCO: John Ontjes – Hutchinson Community College
NCAA DI: Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
NCAA DII: Kari Kerkhoff – McKendree University
NCAA DIII: Meg Barber – New York University
NAIA: Adam Hocking – Clarke University
JUCO: Jamie Fisher – Florida SouthWestern State College
Week 6
NCAA DI: Vanessa Blair-Lewis – George Mason University
NCAA DII: Emry Tsitouris – Mars Hill University
NCAA DIII: Megan Phelps – Bowdoin College
NAIA: Alico Dunk – Stillman College
JUCO: Nate Beutel – SUNY Niagara
Week 7
Winter Break – No winners selected.
Week 8
Winter Break – No winners selected.
NCAA DI: Karen Aston – University of Texas at San Antonio
NCAA DII: John Bonner – California State University, Dominguez Hills
NCAA DIII: Katherine Auguste – Colorado College
NAIA: Carlotta Kloppenburg-Pruitt – Southern Oregon University
JUCO: Jessica Eaton – Florida State College at Jacksonville
NCAA DI: Charmin Smith – University of California, Berkeley
NCAA DII: Lisa Wilson – Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
NCAA DIII: Cheri Harrer – Baldwin-Wallace University
NAIA: Bo Browder – Xavier University of Louisiana
JUCO: Bart Walker – Northwest Florida State College
NCAA DI: Vernette Skeete – Texas Southern University
NCAA DII: Matt Houser – Columbus State University
NCAA DIII: Brad Fischer – University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
NAIA: Chris Vincent – Langston University
JUCO: Marbely Montas – Union College (NJ)
Week 12
NCAA DI: Kevin McGuff – Ohio State University
NCAA DII: Courtney Boyd – Quincy University
NCAA DIII: James Boney – Rutgers University-Camden
NAIA: Rick Reeves – University of the Cumberlands
JUCO: Mitch Rolls – Chipola College
NCAA DI: Chelsea Lyles – Florida Gulf Coast University
NCAA DII: Mike Williams – Grand Valley State University
NCAA DIII: Lindsey Burke-Eberhart – Randolph-Macon College
NAIA: Ethan Whaley – Indiana Wesleyan University
JUCO: Misty Opat – Cochise College
NCAA DI: Cori Close – University of California, Los Angeles
NCAA DII: Lenise Stallings – Chowan University
NCAA DIII: Rodney Rogan – Johns Hopkins University
NAIA: Kellie Kennedy – Loyola University New Orleans
JUCO: Alex Wiggs – Three Rivers College
Previous Coach of the Year Award Winners:
Division I
- 2022-23: Kenny Brooks – Virginia Tech University
- 2021-22: Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
- 2020-21: Adia Barnes – University of Arizona
- 2019-20: Dawn Staley – University of South Carolina
Division II
- 2022-23: Kari Pickens – Ashland University
- 2021-22: Kim Stephens – Glenville State College
- 2020-21: Steve Gomez – Lubbock Christian University
- 2019-20: Molly Miller – Drury University
Division III
- 2022-23: Juli Fulks – Transylvania University
- 2021-22: Brian Morehouse – Hope College
- 2020-21: Brian Morehouse – Hope College
- 2019-20: Jill Pace – Tufts University
NAIA
- 2022-23: Courtney Boyd – Clarke University
- 2021-22: Jeff Hans – Thomas More College
- 2020-21: Kirsten Moore – Westmont College
- 2019-20: Chris Nelson – Bethel University
JUCO
- 2022-23: Mike Seney – CCBC Essex
- 2021-22: Trenia Tillis Hoard – Tyler Junior College
- 2020-21: No winner named – COVID season
- 2019-20: Cayla Petree – South Plains College
FastBreak PlayBook provides coaches with a database of plays drawn by professional and college level coaches with coaching points and player assignments. All plays are editable to fit your system or you can quickly draw your own with their custom-built play drawing tool. Additional features allow coaches to create practice schedules, scouting reports, as well as integrate and distribute video to their team directly with the mobile team app.
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