A total of 32 former Big Ten student-athletes are currently head coaches of women's teams in the conference, including 30 mentors in 12 of the 13 sponsored sports.
BASKETBALL
Joanne P. McCallie, Michigan State, 2000-Present
Competed at Northwestern, 1984-87
- THEN: 1987 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten; Academic All-Big Ten; 378 career assists (7th at Northwestern).
- NOW: 2004-05 AP National Coach of the Year & Big Ten Coach of the Year (media); 2005 NCAA Championship Finalist.
Beth Combs, Northwestern, 2004-Present
Competed at Illinois, 1987-89
- THEN: Member of 1988-89 Fighting Illini squad.
- NOW: Led 2004-05 team to Northwestern's first win over a ranked opponent since 1999.
Sharon Versyp, Purdue, 2006-Present
Competed at Purdue, 1984-88
- THEN: 3-Time All-Big Ten (1986, 87, 88); 3-time Academic All-Big Ten (1986, 87, 88); Purdue Athlete of the Year (1988).
- NOW: Posted impressive Hoosier turnaround in 2005-06 as Indiana coach; Enters 2006-07 in her first year as Purdue head coach.
Lisa Stone, Wisconsin, 2003-Present
Competed at Iowa, 1980-84
- THEN: 3-time Iowa captain at point guard; 2-time MVP; 1,129 career points (14th at Iowa); 1984 Big Ten Medal of Honor winner.
- NOW: Ranks among top-20 career winning percentages for Division I coaches; Led Badgers to 1st Big Ten Tournament win in 2002.
CROSS COUNTRY
Karen Harvey, Illinois, 2002-Present
Competed at Michigan, 1991-95
- THEN: First-Team All-Big Ten in 1992, 1995; 3-time Academic All-Big Ten; All-American multiple times; 2 top-10 NCAA finishes in track.
- NOW: Led Illini to program-best 5th-place at 2005 NCAA Championships; Finished 14th in 2005 national poll; 2005 Big Ten runner-up.
Judy Wilson, Indiana, 1998-Present
Competed at Indiana, 1984-88
- THEN: Former walk-on; 1987 captain and Scholastic Achievement Award winner; 1986, 1988 Most Improved Athlete & Coaches Award.
- NOW: Led IU back to national rankings in 2002 for first time in 13 years; Consistently has team lead all IU women's sports in GPA.
Mike McGuire, Michigan, 1992-Present
Competed at Michigan, 1976-79
- THEN: All-American; 1976 Big Ten 3-mile record holder.
NOW: 7-time Big Ten Coach of the Year; 7 Big Ten Championships; 5-Time NCAA Regional Titles; 18 All-Americans.
Robert Gary, Ohio State, 1998-Present
Competed at Ohio State, 1993-96
- THEN: All-American; First Team All-Big Ten in Cross Country (1993, 94, 95) and Track & Field (1994, 96); 1996 and 2004 Olympian.
- NOW: Has coached 12 All-Americans and 13 Big Ten champions, including a winner in every distance event in track & field.
FIELD HOCKEY
Kelly McCollum, Northwestern, 2004-Present
Competed at Northwestern, 1991-94
- THEN: Captain of 1994 Big Ten Champions; Midwest Region All-American; 2-Time All-Big Ten Selection (1993, 1994).
- NOW: Coached NU's first All-American since 1996; Led NU to best Big Ten finish in five years in 2004.
Charlene Morett, Penn State, 1987-Present
Competed at Penn State, 1976-79
- THEN: PSU's only 3-time All-American; Captain of undefeated 1978 team; 1980 and 1984 Olympian.
NOW: 4 Big Ten Championships; 4 Big Ten Tournament Championships, 2-Time Big Ten Coach of the Year (1998, 2005).
GOLF
Renee Slone, Illinois, 2006-Present
Competed at Illinois, 1990-93
- THEN: 3-time All-American, 2-time Big Ten Player of the Year (1992-93) & Champion (1991, 1993); 1993 National Player of the Year.
- NOW: Enters the 2006-07 season in her first year as Illini head coach.
Kathy Teichert, Michigan, 1993-Present
Competed at Michigan State, 1982-85
- THEN: 2-time team captain at MSU; 1985 All-Big Ten; Posted Top-30 finishes at 1983 and 1984 Big Ten Championships.
- NOW: 3-time NCAA Regional participant; 2002 NCAA Championship appearance; 1996 co-Big Ten Coach of the Year.
Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll, Michigan State, 1997-Present
Competed at Michigan State, 1991-94
- THEN: Captained the 1992-93 and 1993-94 Spartan squads.
- NOW: 7-straight NCAA Regional trips; 5 NCAA Championship outings; 2001 Big Ten Champion & Coach of the Year.
Chris Regenberg, Northwestern, 1992-Present
Competed at Wisconsin, 1980-83
- THEN: 1982 Collegiate AIAW Regional All-American; Wisconsin head coach until 1989 following graduation from UW in 1983.
- NOW: 2000 NGCA Midwest Coach of the Year; 2001 Big Ten runner-up; 6 NCAA Regional appearances since 1999.
Denise St. Pierre, Penn State, 1993-Present
Competed at Penn State, 1979-83
- THEN: 4-Time letter winner; NCAA Championships Qualifier.
- NOW: Has led PSU to 15 tournament wins and 14 runner-up finishes.
GYMNASTICS
Carey Fagan, Ohio State, 2004-Present
Competed at Penn State, 1995-98
- THEN: 1998 Captain at PSU; Member of 4-time NCAA Northeast Regional Champions; 3-Time NCAA Championship participant.
- NOW: Led OSU in 2006 to first NCAA Regional Championships berth and best Big Ten finish since 2003.
ROWING
Mandi Kowal, Iowa, 1994-Present
Competed at Wisconsin, 1981-85
- THEN: Member of the UW Varsity 8+ that was second at 1985 Collegiate Nationals; Varsity Lightweight award named after her at UW.
- NOW: Hawkeyes' first-ever coach; Honored by U.S. Olympic Committee as 1987 National Sportswoman of the Year.
SOCCER
Mikki Denney Wright, Minnesota, 2004-Present
Competed at Minnesota, 1995-96
- THEN: 2-time Captain; 2-time Second-Team All-Big Ten; 1996 Second-Team All-Central Region; School-best 63 consecutive starts.
- NOW: Led Gophers in 2005 to most wins since 1999.
Dean Duerst, Wisconsin, 1994-Present
Competed at Wisconsin, 1981-83
- THEN: 2-time Captain; First-Team (1983) & Second-Team (1982) All-America Midwest; Ranks 7th all-time with 20 career goals.
- NOW: 7 NCAA Tournament trips; 1994 Big Ten Tournament title; 1996 Big Ten Championship; UW's winningest WSOC coach.
Stephanie Erickson, Northwestern, 2006-Present
Competed at Northwestern, 1994-97
- THEN: All-time leading scorer at Northwestern; All-Big Ten (1996); 3-Time Academic All-Big Ten.
- NOW: Enters 2006 season in her first year as Wildcat head coach.
Tom Saxton, Michigan State, 1991-Present
Competed at Michigan State, 1979-82
- THEN: Three-time letterwinner who led MSU to a 33-16-2 overall record.
- NOW: 2-time Big Ten Coach of the Year; Guided Spartans to double-digit wins the past six seasons.
SOFTBALL
Stacey Phillips, Indiana, 2005-Present
Competed at Michigan State, 1996-2000
- THEN: 2000 First-Team All-Big Ten; 3-Time Second-Team All-Big Ten; 1997 Third-Team All-America; MSU Career HR & RBI Records.
- NOW: Led Hoosiers back to Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments for first time since 1996 and saw IU set five school team records in 2006.
Carol Hutchins, Michigan, 1985-Present
Competed at Michigan State, 1976-79
- THEN: Played both basketball and softball; Led MSU to 1976 AIAW National Softball Championship.
- NOW: Led Michigan to 2005 NCAA Championship; 8 NCAA Regional crowns; 10 Big Ten titles; 7 Big Ten Tournament Championships.
SWIMMING & DIVING
Marc Long, Iowa, 2004-Present
Competed at Iowa, 1987-89
- THEN: 6-time All-American; 3-time Big Ten Champion.
- NOW: Led Iowa to Top 25 finish at 2005 NCAA Championships.
Terry Nieszner, Minnesota (co) 2004-Present
Competed at Minnesota, 1974-77
- THEN: 4-time All-American; 2-time Conference Champion; Inducted in to Minnesota Women's Athletics Hall of Fame.
- NOW: 2006 Co-Big Ten Coach of the Year; Led Minnesota in 2006 to Top 25 finish at NCAA Championships.
TENNIS
Chuck Merzbacher, Ohio State
Competed at Minnesota, 1984-87
- THEN: 3-Time All-Big Ten; Big Ten No.4 singles champion; Set Minnesota record for career victories.
- NOW: Led OSU to 2000 Big Ten regular season title, 1999 Big Ten Coach of the Year, 6 NCAA tournament trips.
TRACK & FIELD
James Henry, Michigan, 1985-Present
Competed at Michigan, 1977-80
- THEN: 1980 Big Ten long jump champion; Four-time NCAA qualifier; Led Michigan to 3 Big Ten Championships.
- NOW: Led Michigan to 14 total Big Ten Championships (8 indoor/6 outdoor); 9-Time Coach of the Year.
Karen Dennis, Ohio State, 2006-Present
Competed at Michigan State, 1976-77
- THEN: 1975 AIAW National Champion, 220-yard dash; Set world record with MSU 4x160-yard relay team; later became 2000 U.S. Olympic Team Head Coach
- NOW: Enters the 2006-07 season in her first year as Ohio State women's head coach
Beth Alford-Sullivan, Penn State, 1999-Present
Competed at Minnesota, 1986-89
- THEN: 3-Time Captain of Cross Country/Track & Field team.
- NOW: Led PSU to first ever Big Ten title (2004 indoors); Big Ten Coach of the Year (2004 indoors); 20 Big Ten individual champions.
Jim Stinzi, Wisconsin, 2004-Present
Competed at Wisconsin, 1978-81
- THEN: 7-Time All-American; 6-Time Big Ten Champion; All-Big Ten in Cross Country and Track & Field.
- NOW: Former M/W Coach at MSU; 3-Time Big Ten Coach of the Year; Led MSU women to the 2001 Big Ten Cross Country title.
VOLLEYBALL
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LACROSSE
Suzanne Isidor, Penn State, 2001-Present
Competed at Penn State, 1992-95
- THEN: 4-Time letter winner, member or 3 NCAA tournament teams including 1995 NCAA Championship Semifinalist.
- NOW: Led 2005 team to most wins since 2000 season, 2001 NCAA tournament participant.
ICE HOCKEY
Mark Johnson, Wisconsin, 2002-Present
Competed at Wisconsin, 1977-1980
- THEN: 2-Time All-American, led Wisconsin to 1977 NCAA title, member of gold medal winning 1980 U.S. Olympic Team.
- NOW: Led 2005-06 team to Wisconsin's first NCAA Championship title; 2005-06 team set school record for wins with 36.
