Wayne State women’s basketball coach Chris Kielsmeier has stepped down to accept the head women’s basketball coaching position at Div. I Cleveland State in Ohio.
Kielsmeier came to Wayne State on May 8, 2008 after leading Howard Payne University in Texas to the 2008 NCAA Div. III national title, and built the Wildcats into a championship-caliber program. He never had a losing season in 10 years at Wayne State, winning four regular-season (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015) and two tournament titles in the Northern Sun Conference (2010, 2012). The Wildcats were 237-72 (.767) during his 10 years with the program, highlighted by the school’s first-ever Elite Eight appearance in the 2011-12 season when the Wildcats were 32-3 (20-2 NSIC), won the Central Region title in Rice Auditorium and took a No. 1 ranking into the Elite Eight.
“I have been very proud to lead the Wayne State College women’s basketball program for the last 10 years,” Kielsmeier said. “It has provided me with some lifetime memories that I will cherish. The experiences that I have had at Wayne State have helped to grow me into a better person and coach. Everyone associated with this program has worked hard to make it one of the most respected programs in the country, both on and off the court.”
Kielsmeier was named NSIC Coach of the Year in 2010 and 2012 and had several players earn post-season honors, including 19 All-NSIC honors and eight NSIC All-Tournament Team selections. Among his award-winning players were Ashley Arlen, a two-time NSIC Player of the Year (2011-12), National Player of the Year (2012) and two-time All-NSIC Tournament Team selection (2011-12, including 2012 MVP); Mara Hjelle, a two-time All-NSIC Tournament Team member (2010 touranment MVP) and two-time All-Defensive Team selection (2010-2011), and Clare Duwelius, the 2009 NSIC Freshman of the Year.
Beating Wayne State in Rice Auditorium was next to impossible during Kielsmeier’s years as coach, as Wayne State went 125-13 — including a 52-game winning streak from 2009-2013 — with Kielsmeier on the bench.
Kielsmeier, owner of a 416-116 career record between his 18 years as a head coach in Texas and Wayne — including last season’s 25-7 record — had a lot of people to thank in his announcement late Tuesday.
“I want to thank our players, Assistant Coach Kelly (Kielsmeier), all of our other graduate assistants, trainers and managers that have helped make this program what it is today,” he said. “I have been able to coach talented players who most importantly were great people.”
“I want to thank our administration, Athletic Director Mike Powicki and all of his staff for the wonderful support and resources they have always provided to our program,” Kielsmeier added. “I also want to thank Eric Schoh (past athletic director) and President Curt Frye (retired) for giving me this opportunity 10 years ago. A big thank you to every Wildcat women’s basketball fan that has supported us so much from the beginning. The friendships I have built here will last forever. Wayne State College and the city of Wayne is a special place that will always have a place in my heart.”
Wayne State athletic director Mike Powicki said a search will begin immediately for the next Wildcat women’s basketball coach, and he thanked Kielsmeier for his efforts the last 10 years.
“Coach Kielsmeier is most certainly ready and deserving to take this next step in his career and I wish him the best of luck at Cleveland State. That being said, I am excited about the student-athletes we currently have in our program and the future of Wildcat women’s basketball.”
