Plitzuweit was named the NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year after the season. The Lakers were 117-39 during her five seasons, and in 2006, Plitzuweit led Grand Valley State to a 33-3 record and the NCAA Division II National Championship, which was the first in program history. Plitzuweit's first head coaching job was at Grand Valley State University, where she was from 2002-2007. ![]() She was the associate head coach at Michigan from 2007-12 and helped lead the Wolverines to the postseason four times, including a spot in the 2012 NCAA Tournament. There she registered a 71-54 record and her team played in the Women's Basketball Invitational in all four years. Plitzuweit was the head coach at Northern Kentucky from 2012-16. Plitzuweit was named Summit League Coach of the Year three times and led the Coyotes to three regular-season titles, three conference tournament championships, four NCAA Tournaments and a trip to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament in 2022. During those six seasons, she recorded a 158-36 record and was 83-10 in the Summit League. Prior to West Virginia, she was the head coach at South Dakota and led the program to historic success from 2016-22. I am also looking forward to reconnecting with local high school and club coaches. I am looking forward to getting back to the area and to meet the team, alumni and fans. This is a homecoming of sorts, and Minnesota is a program that I am very familiar with from my previous time in the surrounding area and in the Big Ten. "It is a tremendous honor to be named head coach at Minnesota, and I want to thank President Joan Gabel, Mark Coyle, Julie Manning, Joi Thomas and the entire search committee for this opportunity. "I am extremely excited," said Plitzuweit. West Virginia played Arizona in the NCAA Tournament yesterday. There, she led the Mountaineers to 19 wins and became the first coach in program history (49 years) to lead the team to the NCAA Tournament in an initial season. Plitzuweit was at West Virginia for one season. I know she is excited to get back to the area and build her program." Dawn has Big Ten coaching experience and knows how competitive and strong the conference is. She has recruited Minnesota and has consistently produced teams that compete for championships. "Dawn is a process-driven coach and has coached winning teams at every step of her career. "I am excited to welcome Dawn, her husband Jay and their family to Minnesota," said Coyle. Plitzuweit has coached at two Big Ten schools (Michigan and Wisconsin) and has recruited the state of Minnesota and surrounding area at her previous stops. She took South Dakota to the Sweet 16 in 2022 and won a Division II national championship at Grand Valley State in 2006. Plitzuweit led both West Virginia and South Dakota to the NCAA Tournament and she participated in postseason play at all four of her head coaching stops. Her teams have finished tied for fifth or higher in regular-season conference play in all 16 of her seasons and have recorded 11 top-three conference finishes. Plitzuweit's career coaching record is 356-141 (.721) and she is 201-66 (.752) in league play. Her teams have reached the postseason in 15 of her 16 seasons as a head coach and have competed in the last four NCAA Tournaments. She has totaled 15 winning seasons, nine 20-win seasons and two 30-win campaigns. ![]() She brings 28 years of coaching experience – 16 as a head coach – to Minnesota and has been the head coach of winning teams at West Virginia, South Dakota, Northern Kentucky and Grand Valley State. ![]() Plitzuweit will be the 13th head coach in Minnesota history. The University and Plitzuweit have agreed to a six-year term, which is pending Board of Regents approval and the completion of a background check. MINNEAPOLIS - University of Minnesota Director of Athletics Mark Coyle announced today that Dawn Plitzuweit has been named head women's basketball coach.
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