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Tulsa Receives WBCA Academic Special Mention Recognition
7/24/2025 10:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ATLANTA, Ga. — The Tulsa women's basketball team earned 2024-25 Women's Basketball Coaches' Association (WBCA) Academic Special Mention recognition with a 3.047 cumulative team grade point average last season.
College teams having a 3.0 combined GPA or higher qualified for consideration in their respective division to receive the award. The WBCA ranked the top 25 programs in each division by GPA, with Wisconsin-Green Bay leading Division I with a 3.862 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!"
It's the third time in program history the Golden Hurricane has received Special Mention status after earning it in the past two seasons.
Tulsa was one of five American Conference members to earn the academic distinction this season, joining South Florida, North Texas, UAB, and Temple.
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.
ABOUT THE WBCA
Established in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) stands as the premier professional network for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at every level of the game. The WBCA equips coaches with vital educational tools to strengthen their roles as leaders, instructors, and mentors. It fosters a strong community by creating avenues for professional connection and collaboration, advocates on behalf of coaches within the larger basketball landscape, and honors the standout individuals—coaches, athletes, and contributors—who push the game forward each year. To learn more, visit WBCA.org.
2025-26 SEASON TICKETS
Golden Hurricane women's basketball season tickets are on sale now, with tickets starting at just $75. CLICK HERE to start the process of ordering tickets or call 918-631-4688.
Visit www.TulsaHurricane.com for the latest news and information on the women's basketball program. Fans can also follow the team on X, Facebook and Instagram.
College teams having a 3.0 combined GPA or higher qualified for consideration in their respective division to receive the award. The WBCA ranked the top 25 programs in each division by GPA, with Wisconsin-Green Bay leading Division I with a 3.862 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!"
It's the third time in program history the Golden Hurricane has received Special Mention status after earning it in the past two seasons.
Tulsa was one of five American Conference members to earn the academic distinction this season, joining South Florida, North Texas, UAB, and Temple.
| Rank | Institution | Head Coach | GPA |
| 1 | UW-Green Bay | Kayla Karius | 3.862 |
| 2 | Boise State | Gordy Presnell | 3.803 |
| 3 | Youngstown State | Melissa Jackson | 3.781 |
| 4 | Western Illinois | JD Gravina | 3.775 |
| 5 | South Dakota State | Aaron Johnston | 3.760 |
| 6 | Creighton | Jim Flanery | 3.757 |
| 7 | DePaul | Jill Pizzotti | 3.750 |
| 8 | Drake | Allison Pohlman | 3.741 |
| 9 | California Baptist | Jarrod Olson | 3.733 |
| 10 | Utah Valley | Dan Nielson | 3.716 |
| 11 | Davidson | Gayle Fulks | 3.711 |
| 12 | Saint Peter's | Jennifer Leedham | 3.700 |
| 13 | Tennessee Tech | Kim Rosamond | 3.699 |
| 14 | Montana State | Tricia Binford | 3.694 |
| 15 | Wyoming | Heather Ezell | 3.692 |
| 16 | Maine | Amy Vachon | 3.691 |
| 17 | Cleveland State | Chris Kielsmeier | 3.685 |
| 18 | Northern Kentucky | Jeff Hans | 3.678 |
| 19 | Kent State | Todd Starkey | 3.669 |
| T20 | Manhattan | Heather Vulin | 3.667 |
| T20 | UW-Milwaukee | Kyle Rechlicz | 3.667 |
| 22 | Iowa State | Bill Fennelly | 3.658 |
| 23 | Lafayette | Kia Damon-Olson | 3.630 |
| 24 | Purdue Fort Wayne | Maria Marchesano | 3.624 |
| 25 | Northern Iowa | Tanya Warren | 3.621 |
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.
ABOUT THE WBCA
Established in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) stands as the premier professional network for coaches of women's and girls' basketball at every level of the game. The WBCA equips coaches with vital educational tools to strengthen their roles as leaders, instructors, and mentors. It fosters a strong community by creating avenues for professional connection and collaboration, advocates on behalf of coaches within the larger basketball landscape, and honors the standout individuals—coaches, athletes, and contributors—who push the game forward each year. To learn more, visit WBCA.org.
2025-26 SEASON TICKETS
Golden Hurricane women's basketball season tickets are on sale now, with tickets starting at just $75. CLICK HERE to start the process of ordering tickets or call 918-631-4688.
Visit www.TulsaHurricane.com for the latest news and information on the women's basketball program. Fans can also follow the team on X, Facebook and Instagram.
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