Story: AJ Nelson, Senior Staff Writer, WHoopDirt.com
BOSTON, MA – The following women’s college basketball coaches have been honored with the Week 3 WHoopDirt.com Coach of the Week Award, presented by Just Play Solutions. These coaches are now eligible for the WHoopDirt.com National Coach of the Year Award, presented by Just Play Solutions, which will be announced at the conclusion of the 2025-26 college basketball season.
This marks the sixth season of WHoopDirt.com’s Coach of the Week and Coach of the Year programs. This week’s winners are listed below, followed by all previous weekly honorees from earlier in the season.
To nominate coaches for future weeks, please email [email protected] with your selection(s).
The Week 3 winners are:
NCAA D1: Molly Miller – Arizona State University
In her first year with Arizona State, Coach Miller has the Sun Devils off to their best start in program history. Hosting the Briann January Classic over the weekend, Arizona State matched the 1991-92 squad’s 9-0 record with a 57-47 victory over McNeese State on Friday. Back in action the following day, the Sun Devils made program history with their 10th consecutive win – a 67-44 triumph over San Francisco – to open the season. Defense has been Arizona State’s calling card in the early-going, as they have held nine of their 10 opponents to 58 or fewer points. The Sun Devils will look to stay perfect when they kick off a three-game road trip at Penn State on Tuesday night.
NCAA D2: Tasha Diesselhorst – Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Coach Diesselhorst’s squad kicked off conference play with a pair of road victories over previously-unbeaten opponents this week. In their GAC opener Thursday, the Lady Rangers fended off a late comeback attempt from Arkansas Tech, who had entered the matchup with a 4-0 record, to come away with a 72-66 win. Facing another unbeaten opponent from Arkansas in their next contest on Saturday, Northwestern used a strong second half to seal an impressive 65-57 victory over No. 7 Harding. The win marked the Lady Rangers’ first over a top-10 team in two seasons. Now 7-1 (2-0 GAC) on the season, Northwestern will look to extend their winning streak to six when they visit Southeastern Oklahoma State on Wednesday.
NCAA D3: Megan Phelps – Bowdoin College
Coach Phelps’ Polar Bears picked up a couple of hard-fought victories over Maine rivals this week to remain undefeated on the season. No. 6 Bowdoin began its week on the road on Thursday, facing a tough Bates squad that entered the matchup at 6-0. Despite a half court buzzer-beater by Bates to send the game into double-overtime, the Polar Bears were able to hold strong and pull out a thrilling 77-70 victory. Bowdoin then returned home for a Top-25 matchup, hosting then-No. 19 Colby on Saturday. The Polar Bears put on a defensive showcase, forcing 21 turnovers in a 53-42 triumph. With the victories, Bowdoin improved to a perfect 6-0 on the season. Their next matchup will come on Tuesday night, when they visit Hartford.
NAIA: DeWitt Mandley – Wiley University
Coach Mandley piloted Wiley to a pair of impressive comeback victories this week as the Lady Wildcats extended their winning streak to five. On Thursday, Wiley trailed Southern University at New Orleans by as many as 12 in the second quarter before quickly responding with a run of their own to lead by two at the half. The Lady Wildcats would wind up taking an 80-76 victory, forcing 29 turnovers in the process. Back in action on Saturday, Wiley quickly found itself down 10 at home against Dillard. The Lady Wildcats again quickly responded, even taking a double-digit lead themselves before fending off a late comeback attempt to come away with an 84-80 win. Now 8-2 (3-0 HBCUAC) on the season, Wiley look for its sixth straight win when it hosts Philander Smith on Saturday afternoon.
JUCO: Damel Ling – Monroe University – Bronx
Three more victories this past week have Coach Ling’s Express on the cusp of the NJCAA DIII Top 5. Monroe, who entered the contest ranked No. 7, opened the week at home against defending regional champion Hostos Community College on Tuesday, forcing a whopping 47 turnovers in a 97-48 win. The Express then hit the road to take on Bronx Community College on Thursday, jumping out a 15-point lead in the first quarter and never looking back en route to a 72-57 victory. Monroe then closed out its three-game week on Sunday with a showdown against a fellow ranked opponent – No. 14 Kingsborough Community College. Despite trailing by nine with under six minutes remaining, the Express were able to fight back and pick up a hard-fought 59-58 triumph. Now 12-1 on the season, Monroe finds itself ranked No. 6 in the latest NJCAA DIII Top 15 Poll. The Express will look to continue their climb up the rankings when they host Herkimer County Community College on Sunday.
2025-26 WHoopDirt.com / Just Play Solutions Coach of the Week Winners
NCAA DI: Geno Auriemma – University of Connecticut
NCAA DII: Tim Kirby – Harding University
NCAA DIII: Melissa Smeltzer-Kraft – Shenandoah University
NAIA: Bill Harmsen – Dordt University
JUCO: Jaleel Taylor – Union College (NJ)
NCAA DI: Vic Schaefer – University of Texas
NCAA DII: Johnette Walker – Newberry College
NCAA DIII: Meg Barber – New York University
NAIA: DeWayne Burroughs – Shawnee State University
JUCO: Nicole Collier – State Fair Community College
