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Women's Basketball Earns Special Mention in WBCA Academic Honor Roll

ATLANTA (July 22, 2025) – University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, St. Cloud State University, Colorado College, University of the Cumberlands, and Colby Community College sit atop their respective divisions in the 2024-25 WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Rolls announced today by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.

The WBCA Academic Top 25 recognizes college women’s basketball teams across the nation in their respective divisions that carry the highest combined GPAs inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. The 2024-25 season is the 30th in which the WBCA has compiled the honor rolls.

Green Bay, coached by Kayla Karius, finished first among NCAA Division I members with a 3.862 cumulative team grade-point average. St. Cloud state, coached by Lori Fish, claimed top academic honors in NCAA Division II with a 3.892 GPA. Colorado College, coached by Katherine Menendez, took top honors in NCAA Division III with a 3.864 GPA. Cumberlands, coached by Rick Reeves, was No. 1 in the NAIA division with a 3.837 GPA. Colby, coached by Darin Spence, finished atop the two-year college standings with a 3.662 GPA.

“The WBCA is pleased to recognize those women’s basketball programs that have committed themselves to excellence on the court and in the classroom,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew.  “The 119 teams we honor this year strive to achieve all-around success and we commend their efforts. Congratulations!”

Here are the 2024-25 WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Rolls. The head coach listed for each institution was its head coach during the 2024-25 season. Teams having a 3.0 combined GPA and qualifying for consideration for the top 25 in their respective divisions are listed as special mentions.

NCAA Division I

RankInstitutionHead CoachGPA
1UW-Green BayKayla Karius3.862
2Boise StateGordy Presnell3.803
3Youngstown StateMelissa Jackson3.781
4Western IllinoisJD Gravina3.775
5South Dakota StateAaron Johnston3.760
6CreightonJim Flanery3.757
7DePaulJill Pizzotti3.750
8DrakeAllison Pohlman3.741
9California BaptistJarrod Olson3.733
10Utah ValleyDan Nielson3.716
11DavidsonGayle Fulks3.711
12Saint Peter’sJennifer Leedham3.700
13Tennessee TechKim Rosamond3.699
14Montana StateTricia Binford3.694
15WyomingHeather Ezell3.692
16MaineAmy Vachon3.691
17Cleveland StateChris Kielsmeier3.685
18Northern KentuckyJeff Hans3.678
19Kent StateTodd Starkey3.669
T20ManhattanHeather Vulin3.667
T20UW-MilwaukeeKyle Rechlicz3.667
22Iowa StateBill Fennelly3.658
23LafayetteKia Damon-Olson3.630
24Purdue Fort WayneMaria Marchesano3.624
25Northern IowaTanya Warren3.621

Special Mention: East Tennessee State, Brenda Mock Brown, 3.616; Lehigh, Addie Micir, 3.615; Portland, Michael Meek, 3.605; Quinnipiac, Tricia Fabbri, 3.602; Eastern Michigan, Sahar Nusseibeh, 3.597; Illinois, Shauna Green, 3.597; Georgia State, Gene Hill, 3.587; Northern Illinois, Lisa Carlson, 3.585; Marist, Erin Doughty, 3.584; South Florida, Jose Fernandez, 3.584; Stonehill College , Trisha Brown, 3.583; NJIT, Mike Lane, 3.581; Illinois State, Kristen Gillespie, 3.581; Nebraska, Amy Williams, 3.579; Cincinnati, Katrina Merriweather, 3.576; West Georgia, Joanna Reitz, 3.571; Fairleigh Dickinson, Stephanie Gaitley, 3.541; Belmont, Bart Brooks, 3.540; Northern Colorado, Kristen Mattio, 3.536; North Carolina, Courtney Banghart, 3.532; Eastern Illinois, Marqus Mcglothan, 3.530; Michigan State, Robyn Fralick, 3.530; Indiana, Teri Moren, 3.528; Portland State, Chelsey Gregg, 3.528; Albany, Colleen Mullen, 3.525; Minnesota, Dawn Plitzuweit, 3.521; Abilene Christian, Julie Goodenough, 3.511; Colorado State, Ryun Williams, 3.511; Kentucky, Kenny Brooks, 3.504; Saint Joseph’s, Cindy Griffin, 3.503; Iowa, Jan Jensen, 3.495; Richmond, Aaron Roussell, 3.492; SIUE, Samantha Quigley Smith, 3.489; Drexel, Amy Mallon, 3.489; California, Charmin Smith, 3.462; Duke, Kara Lawson, 3.456; Merrimack, Kelly Morrone, 3.454; UAB, Randy Norton, 3.447; Sacramento State, Aaron Kallhoff, 3.447; Pennsylvania, Michael Mclaughlin, 3.446; South Carolina, Dawn Staley, 3.438; Alabama, Kristy Curry, 3.432; Missouri, Robin Pingeton, 3.431; Robert Morris, Chandler McCabe, 3.431; Northwestern, Joe McKeown, 3.427; Miami, Tricia Cullop, 3.426; Missouri State, Beth Cunningham, 3.426; Denver, Doshia Woods, 3.425; Texas A&M, Joni Taylor, 3.422; Bradley, Kate Popovec-Goss, 3.398; UNC Greensboro, Trina Patterson, 3.395; Liberty, Carey Green, 3.394; Fairfield, Carly Thibault-Dudonis, 3.392; Lipscomb, Lauren Sumski, 3.377; Texas Tech, Krista Gerlich, 3.376; Florida State, Brooke Wyckoff, 3.375; Temple, Diane Richardson, 3.373; Texas, Vic Schaefer, 3.372; Longwood , Erika Lang-Montgomery, 3.369; Vanderbilt, Shea Ralph, 3.367; Hofstra, Danielle Santos, 3.366; Colorado, Jr Payne, 3.366; Louisville, Jeff Walz, 3.363; Virginia Tech, Megan Duffy, 3.360; UNC Asheville, Tynesha Lewis, 3.358; USC, Lindsay Gottlieb, 3.348; Marquette, Cara Consuegra, 3.345; Hawaii, Laura Beeman, 3.343; Yale, Dalila Eshe, 3.338; Oklahoma, Jennie Baranczyk, 3.334; Tennessee, Kim Caldwell, 3.323; Kansas State, Jeff Mittie, 3.317; Notre Dame, Niele Ivey, 3.314; Elon, Charlotte Smith, 3.271; Ohio State, Kevin Mcguff, 3.263; Oklahoma State, Jacie Hoyt, 3.254; West Virginia, Mark Kellogg, 3.242; Akron, Ryan Gensler, 3.225; Seton Hall, Anthony Bozzella, 3.205; UNLV, Lindy La Rocque, 3.201; BYU, Lee Cummard, 3.189; Oregon, Kelly Graves, 3.168; Georgia Tech, Nell Fortner, 3.162; Baylor, Nicki Collen, 3.133; North Texas, Jason Burton, 3.128; Connecticut, Geno Auriemma, 3.061; Tulsa, Angie Nelp, 3.047; Troy, Chanda Rigby, 3.046; Georgetown, Darnell Haney, 3.008; Navy, Tim Taylor, 3.005.

NCAA Division II

 RankInstitutionHead CoachGPA
1St. Cloud StateLori Fish3.892
2Winona StateAna Wurtz3.887
3Texas Woman’sBeth Jillson3.881
4MaloneSelana Ickes3.874
5TiffinJosh Mason3.864
6Lubbock ChristianSteve Gomez3.823
7Ferris StateKurt Westendorp3.820
8Northwestern Okla. St.Tasha Diesselhorst3.813
9ChaminadeMichael Edwards3.805
10AshlandKari Pickens3.795
11Missouri WesternAshton Feldhaus3.788
12UVA WiseJamie Cluesman3.763
13CSU East BayJenny Thigpin3.760
14Montana State BillingsKevin Woodin3.757
15Upper IowaJustin Maass3.750
16Missouri S&TKira Carter3.736
17Point Loma NazareneCharity Elliott3.728
18Dominican (CA)Tim LaKose3.726
19West LibertyKyle Cooper3.715
20Southern New HampshireKaren Pinkos3.713
21MaryvilleBrita Hand3.709
22Sioux FallsTravis Traphagen3.703
23Goldey-BeacomBethann Burke3.702
T24Truman StateTheo Dean3.695
T24Northwest Missouri StateAustin Meyer3.695

Special Mention: Central Missouri, David Slifer, 3.689; Fairmont State, Stephanie Anderson, 3.687; Fort Hays State, Talia Kahrs, 3.685; McKendree, Kari Kerkhoff, 3.676; Kutztown, Janet Malouf, 3.668; D’Youville, Kelly Broderick, 3.660; Rockhurst, Larry Park, 3.655; Kentucky State, Amani Williams, 3.651; Southwest Minnesota State, Tom Webb, 3.649; Pittsburg State, Amanda Davied, 3.647; Lee, Marty Rowe, 3.642; Minnesota State Moorhead, Karla Nelson, 3.634; Caldwell, Christie Conforti, 3.633; Cal State San Marcos, Jana Pearson, 3.628; Chestnut Hill, Megan Fox, 3.626; Wayne State, Carrie Lohr, 3.604; Michigan Tech, Samantha Clayton, 3.589; Pace, Carrie Seymour, 3.587; Davenport, Shonda Sanders, 3.574; Gannon, Cleve Wright, 3.573; Northern Michigan, Casey Thousand, 3.566; Findlay, Michele Durand, 3.558; Menlo, Shannon Spataro, 3.557; Bentley, C White, 3.550; Cal Poly Pomona, Danelle Bishop, 3.542; UW-Parkside, Jen Conely, 3.541; Florida Tech, John Reynolds, 3.536; Assumption, Kerry Phayre, 3.524; Daemen, Jenepher Banker, 3.498; Carson-Newman, Michael Mincey, 3.493; Seattle Pacific, Karen Byers, 3.465; Newman, Amy Briggs, 3.462; West Chester, Kiera Wooden, 3.438; West Florida, Stephanie Yelton, 3.432; Minnesota State Mankato, Emilee Thiesse, 3.431; Barry, Heather Macy, 3.430; Shorter, Lasheena Brooks, 3.425; Southern Arkansas, Darrick Matthews, 3.417; Bridgeport, Jimmy Howard, 3.407; Wingate, Ann Hancock, 3.377; UNC Pembroke, Dr. Kendra Samuels-Eaton, 3.372; Hillsdale, Brianna Brennan, 3.372; Union, Mark Campbell, 3.338; Cal State Monterey Bay, Sarah Hopkins-Chery, 3.316; Tusculum, Roger Hodge, 3.283; Academy of Art, Jesse Clark, 3.278; Anderson, Jonathon Barbaree, 3.268; Emory & Henry, Jaclyn Dickens, 3.249; Cal State San Bernardino, Casandra Renno, 3.249; Augusta, Celeste Stewart, 3.172.

NCAA Division III

RankInstitutionHead CoachGPA
1Colorado CollegeKatherine Menendez3.864
2MITLucia Robinson-Griggs3.863
3St. John FisherSarah Cartmill3.838
4UW-Stevens PointMatt Hockett3.823
5BenedictineOliver Wiseman3.814
6WartburgBob Amsberry3.810
7ThielJess Vormelker3.802
8Baldwin WallaceCheri Harrer3.797
9CarthageMegan Jones3.793
10SimpsonBrian Niemuth3.777
11DrewJohn Olenowski3.774
12ShenandoahMelissa Smeltzer-Kraft3.771
13LawrenceRiley Woldt3.770
14UW-OshkoshBrad Fischer3.760
15SUNY CantonChris Klassen3.754
16Oberlin CollegeStephany Dunmyer3.752
17Saint BenedictMike Durbin3.749
18TrineAndy Rang3.737
19UW-StoutHannah Iverson3.736
20SmithLynn Hersey3.735
21Gustavus AdolphusLaurie Kelly3.729
T22WilliamsPat Manning3.728
T22DickinsonAby Diop3.728
24RITMelissa Kuberka3.726
25Maine-FarmingtonNate Carson3.716

Special Mention: St. Olaf, Megan Lueck, 3.713; Nebraska Wesleyan, James Wiedie, 3.711; Houghton, Phil Pellegrino, 3.710; UW-River Falls, Shelby Lyman, 3.710; Washington And Lee, Brittney Kemp, 3.706; Denison, Maureen Hirt, 3.703; New York, Meg Barber, 3.693; Illinois Wesleyan, Mia Smith, 3.687; Alfred, Michael Moskowitz, 3.686; Misericordia, Jessica Rini, 3.683; Swarthmore, Dawn Grant, 3.679; Concordia (MN), Kim Wagers, 3.679; Wheaton (MA), Kanika Cummings Groves, 3.678; Case Western Reserve, Jennifer Reimer, 3.677; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, John Greene, 3.672; Washington (St. Louis), Lisa Stone, 3.672; Springfield, Naomi Graves, 3.667; St. Catherine, Donald Mulhern, 3.660; Carnegie Mellon, Kathy McConnell-Miller, 3.656; Christopher Newport, Bill Broderick, 3.646; Marywood, Tara Macciocco, 3.643; Buena Vista, Kylee Boettcher, 3.642; Sarah Lawrence, Bradley Alexander, 3.639; Emory, Misha Jackson, 3.634; Martin Luther, Dan Gawrisch, 3.633; Catholic, Matt Donohue, 3.630; Heidelberg, Erin Eaton, 3.629; Johns Hopkins, Rodney Rogan, 3.624; Ohio Northern, Mark Huelsman, 3.621; McDaniel, Christin Gowan, 3.620; Penn State Harrisburg, Ross Patrick, 3.616; Wooster, Olivia Besancon, 3.615; Redlands, Rich Murphy, 3.614; SUNY Geneseo, Alyssa Polosky, 3.612; Manchester, Josh Dzurick, 3.612; Calvin, Mark Christner, 3.611; Rowan, Kate Pearson, 3.609; Bryn Mawr, Carla Coleman, 3.607; Immaculata, Brittany Whalen, 3.606; UW-Eau Claire, Tonja Englund, 3.605; Haverford, Grace Elliott, 3.600; King’s, Caitlin Hadzimichalis, 3.597; Depauw, Kristin Huffman, 3.597; St. Scholastica, Jason Schmitz, 3.594; SUNY Brockport, Corinne Jones, 3.586; Bates, Alison Montgomery, 3.579; Elizabethtown, Veronica Nolt, 3.571; Mount Union, Suzanne Venet Pietz, 3.563; Salisbury, Aprile Preller, 3.559; Messiah, Mike Miller, 3.557; Capital, Camille Mcpherson, 3.557; Piedmont, Jamie Purdy, 3.555; Carleton, Tammy Metcalf-Filzen, 3.549; Gallaudet, Stephanie Stevens, 3.548; Susquehanna, Gabby Holko, 3.546; Southern Virginia, Lynette Schroeder, 3.540; Anderson (IN), Jon Gin, 3.533; Whitman, Michelle Ferenz, 3.530; Occidental, Anahit Aladzhanyan, 3.525; Edgewood, Kole Vivian, 3.525; Moravian, Mary Beth Spirk, 3.519; Monmouth, Michelle Decoud, 3.514; Gettysburg, Nathan Davis, 3.511; Babson, Kate Barnosky, 3.505; Luther, Amanda Bailey, 3.502; Claremont Mudd Scripps, Chanel Murchison, 3.479; Central, Justin Weiland, 3.478; Manhattanville, Kate Vlahakis, 3.475; Illinois Tech, Carissa Sain, 3.473; Bard, Alaina Walker, 3.470; Kean, Mandy King, 3.466; Worcester State, Karen Tessmer, 3.463; Minnesota Morris, Tim Grove, 3.461; Mount Saint Mary, Marion Dietz, 3.458; Coe, Kayla Waskow, 3.447; Randolph-Macon, Lindsey Burke, 3.429; SUNY New Paltz, James Seward, 3.414; Lynchburg, Allison Nichols, 3.414; Franklin & Marshall, Brianna Spector, 3.410; Roger Williams, Kelly Thompson, 3.400; Kenyon, Mary Corbett, 3.395; Suffolk, Ed Leyden, 3.384; Mary Washington, Deena Applebury, 3.360; Bethany Lutheran, Emma Purfeerst, 3.353; Wilson, Dylan Ward, 3.345; William Paterson, Erin Monahan, 3.344; Kalamazoo, Ryan Clark, 3.340; Rhode Island, Jenna Cosgrove, 3.339; Principia, Ramiro Dominguez, 3.336; St. Mary’s (MD), Latanya Collins, 3.267; Willamette, Peg Swadener, 3.197; Colby-Sawyer, Tim Viola, 3.187; Mount Aloysius, Brian Giesler, 3.161.

NAIA

RankInstitutionHead CoachGPA
1CumberlandsRick Reeves3.837
2HastingsJina Douglas3.794
3Bethel (TN)Chris Nelson3.783
4CarrollRachelle Sayers3.766
5CornerstoneJessica Yonkers3.755
6TaborShawn Reed3.748
7Embry-Riddle (AZ)Michael Trujillo3.725
8John BrownSydni Salvato3.690
9GraceDan Davis3.688
10MilliganKylie Russell Greer3.679
11Culver-StocktonJanette Burgin3.674
T12Providence (MT)Bill Himmelberg3.662
T12Ottawa (KS)Hunter Bondurant3.662
14Columbia (MO)Matthew Moore3.655
15Lewis-ClarkCaelyn Orlandi3.647
16St. Francis (IL)John McGinty3.642
17PikevilleClifton Williams3.626
18Jamestown (ND)Thad Sankey3.617
19Southern OregonCarlotta Kloppenburg-Pruitt3.597
20Georgetown (KY)Jeff Nickel3.538
21Rio Grande (OH)David Smalley3.516
22Warner (FL)Niesha Lowe3.484
23Montana State NorthernChris Mouat3.470
24Truett McConnellTiek Fields3.393
25Peru StateMike Sybrant3.350

Special Mention: Texas Wesleyan, Scott Hyland, 3.320; UHSP, Markell Cox, 3.214.

Two-Year College*

RankInstitutionHead CoachGPA
1Colby (KS)Darin Spence3.662
2Central MaineAndrew Morong3.633
3Northern OklahomaMichael Dominguez3.625
4Pima (AZ)Todd Holthaus3.614
5Southwestern OregonHeather Weber3.532
6Lamar (CO)Delino Lewis3.515
7New Mexico JCAustin Mefford3.483
8Minnesota WestRosalie Hayenga3.443
9Folsom Lake (CA)Ali Mollet3.426
10Southern NevadaDan Savage3.317
11Walters State (TN)Jasmin Coleman3.307
T12Cypress (CA)Brittany Imaku3.295
T12Napa Valley (CA)Paul DeBolt3.295
14Kirkwood (IA)Kim Muhl3.283
15Taft (CA)Romeo Lagmay Jr.3.185
16Canyons (CA)Robin Hester3.176
17Sacramento City (CA)Caleb Theodore3.152
18Rio Hondo (CA)Rene Herrera3.147
19RCTC (MN)Jason Bonde3.058

* There were only 19 institutions eligible for ranking in the two-year college division.

A team’s GPA is calculated by dividing the total number of quality points (A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0) earned by the total number of academic hours attempted by all team members in the academic terms (semesters or quarters) that the season spans. Weighted grades are converted to a 4.0 scale. The GPAs are rounded to the nearest thousandth of a point. Teams must be nominated for the honor by their head coach who must be a WBCA member. A team must have a 3.000 or better GPA to be nominated.

About the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association

The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women’s and girls’ basketball at all levels of competition. Founded in 1981, the WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of coaches to those organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit WBCA.org for more details about the association.

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