Chris Kielsmeier

In 10 years as head women's basketball coach at Wayne State (2008-18), Chris Kielsmeier led the Wildcats to unprecedented success guiding the Wildcats to records of 237-72 overall (.767) and 166-50 in Northern Sun Conference (.768) play. He is the all-time wins leader and winning percentage leader and led the Wildcats to seven 20-win seasons in his 10 years with the Wildcats. Kielsmeier coached the Wildcats to four NSIC regular season titles (2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015), two NSIC/Sanford Health Tournament titles (2010 and 2012) and five trips to the NCAA Division II National Tournament (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015). He led the Wildcats to the 2011-12 NCAA Central Region title and the school's first-ever trip to the Elite Eight. He was the NSIC Coach of the Year in 2010 and 2012 and named WBCA Region 7 Coach of the Year in 2012. Wayne State recorded the team's most successful season in school history under Kielsmeier in 2011-12, winning a school record 32 games (32-3) while capturing the NSIC regular season and tournament titles to go with the NCAA Central Region title held at Wayne State College. That season, the Wildcats vaulted to a No. 1 national ranking, another first in school history, and advanced to the Elite Eight in San Antonio, Texas. Under Kielsmeier, Wayne State developed one of the top home court advantages in the NSIC and Central Region at Rice Auditorium in Wayne, producing a 125-13 record over the last nine seasons that included a 52-game home court win streak from 2009 to 2013, tied for the 10th longest win streak in NCAA Division II women's basketball history. After departing Wayne State, Kielsmeier coached at Division I Cleveland State where he led the Vikings to four 20-win seasons in the last five years. Last year's team was 29-6 and captured the school's first-ever Horizon League regular season title. His 2022-23 team went 30-5 and advanced to the NCAA Division I National Tournament, and his 2021-22 team won the WBI (Women's Basketball Invitational) championship.