She is who I’d like to see. Connection to the past but also a new era type of hire.
Bill Fennelly
- Thread starter AltoonaFish
- Start date
Doyle is an assistant coach at DePaul and was named to the 2026 WBCA 30 Under 30 List
Thanks for starting a list of possible coach candidates that Iowa State could afford and who have had success as a head coach.
Here is the same list with each coach’s’ age and hyperlinks to their wiki summary of their coaching history.
Chris Kielsmeier (51 ) - Cleveland State - 1999 Iowa State Alum
Kayla Karius (36) - Green Bay
Aaron Johnston (51) - South Dakota State
Jory Collins (47) - North Dakota State
All seem like quality candidates. Kayla is much younger (36) than the other three and Chris is an Iowa State alum (1999).
I'm not sure how Bill would be able to face the fans next year. "Yeah, I had some of the best talent I've had at ISU and did nothing with it. But that was their fault not mine."
I'm sure internally all the coaches are like damn we just don't have the funds to compete, but it's like if Jada and Addy and Audi get millions elsewhere why didn't you do anything with them while they were here?
I'm sure internally all the coaches are like damn we just don't have the funds to compete, but it's like if Jada and Addy and Audi get millions elsewhere why didn't you do anything with them while they were here?
I don't think either of them get "millions" anywhere tbh....I'm sure Audi makes a decent amount from Fareway for sure and I'd guess it's six figures but would Addy be making 500k at let's say a Tennessee? Who knows?
I am not sure how we field a team! Certainly not a very good one.
This appears to be a disaster. I would like to know what is going on - as I imagine most of you do too.
two schools still in the tournament that will need to replace their inside presence are:
1) Oklahoma - both 6’4” Regab Bears annd 6’3” back up Culliton are seniors and Audi likely know the coach and Williams (from Waterloo) well. And freshman top rated recruit Chavez is very talented.
2) Vanderbilt graduates three starters who are 6’2”, 6’2” and 6’4” …. And they have a very dynamic backcourt where Audi played with sophomore Blake’s last summer representing USA.
Both schools are SEC so likely deeper pockets for NIL (driven by league football $s).
I could see Audi playing with either team. She would not be the focal point on offense but I could see her playing with either team and elevating them to be final four contenders.
>>copied over to Transfer Portal thread as probably makes more sense there<<
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I'm fascinated by Ben McCollum's long tenure in Division II, winning four national titles before getting an opportunity at Drake.
My son-in-law is a proud Minnesota State alum and he suggests:
Emiliee Thiesse - sister of Amy Williams, head coach at Nebraska
13 Years at Division II Minnesota State - won a National Title in 2023-2024
Team finished 29-3 in 2025-2026
3 Seasons as Assistant at SDSU
3 Seasons as Assistant at Drake
Kari Pickens at Ashland suffered a down year in 2025-2026 (14-13 with 8 single digit loses), but had a career .907 winning % in twelve seasons prior, including a 37-0 Div II National Title in 22-23. Her team was 31-0 in 19-20 when the tournament was cancelled due to COVID. She's young, graduating from college in 2013, and played a year professionally in Australia. Her predecessor at Ashland was Robyn Fralick, the current head coach at Michigan State. She's married with three children.
If Mike Williams at Grand Valley State wasn't already in his 60's, he's won > 30 games five years in a row and is favored to repeat as National Champion in 2026 (#1 Seed in D2 Final Four). How has this guy never gotten a shot at a Division 1 program? Likely he never sought one, with his coaching record...
If Bill does end up departing prior to next season, there are many accomplished female coaches out there ready to move up the coaching ranks.
My son-in-law is a proud Minnesota State alum and he suggests:
Emiliee Thiesse - sister of Amy Williams, head coach at Nebraska
13 Years at Division II Minnesota State - won a National Title in 2023-2024
Team finished 29-3 in 2025-2026
3 Seasons as Assistant at SDSU
3 Seasons as Assistant at Drake
Kari Pickens at Ashland suffered a down year in 2025-2026 (14-13 with 8 single digit loses), but had a career .907 winning % in twelve seasons prior, including a 37-0 Div II National Title in 22-23. Her team was 31-0 in 19-20 when the tournament was cancelled due to COVID. She's young, graduating from college in 2013, and played a year professionally in Australia. Her predecessor at Ashland was Robyn Fralick, the current head coach at Michigan State. She's married with three children.
If Mike Williams at Grand Valley State wasn't already in his 60's, he's won > 30 games five years in a row and is favored to repeat as National Champion in 2026 (#1 Seed in D2 Final Four). How has this guy never gotten a shot at a Division 1 program? Likely he never sought one, with his coaching record...
If Bill does end up departing prior to next season, there are many accomplished female coaches out there ready to move up the coaching ranks.
So basically, in the last 10 years, it’s AJ and a bunch of kids that transferred after a year or two.
Being quite the drama queen here. First you claim ISU doesn’t get any AIA players which is obviously wrong and then you claim AJ is the only AIA player who didn’t transfer out which is also obviously wrong (Ashley Joens, Cristofferson and Poppens did not transfer out although the last two exceed your irrelevant 10 year threshold).
I think it’s relevant only because AIA is no longer the only big club around. About 10 years ago it was the only place to be.
My BFF played for the first national championship at MSU back in 09 and we went to the national game in 24. Emiliee is a great coach and nice person. I am still shaking my head what happened this year in the tournament.
Hmm…Bunch of bill apologists didn’t like this but I was right. Plus he’s always struck me as a nightmare to play for who hides behind being “tough” but his teams certainly didn’t show that so I’ll conclude he was always a just a dickhead to play for hiding behind his “Iowa state way” bs . Also can anyone explain to me what qualifications or skill Billy ever had as an assistant coach to make what he has over the yrs beyond being his son???? Nepotism at its worst.
No ****, Sherlock. Didn't suggest she will or should be coach, but little coaching experience isn't the reason.
Probably not, but I bet she's done a bunch of stuff that has a lot more to do with women's college basketball than an NBA front office - that has zero to do with coaching.
Interesting post stolen from a Reddit chat - most ISU transfers go to a school with a female coach (77%) while only 42% of teams are led by females.
Someone made this comment in Iowa State forums about Iowa State transfers going to schools that have a Woman as their Head Coach. I decided to look at this and thought y'all would like the results.
After 2024-2025:
• Lily Hansford transferred to Green Bay, coached by Kayla Karius, a Woman.
• Kelsey Joens transferred to Villanova, coached by Denise Dillon, a Woman.
After 2023-2024:
• Isnelle Natabou transferred to FIU, coached by Jesyka Burks-Wiley, a Woman.
• Jalynn Bristow transferred to Texas Tech, coached by Krista Gerlich, a Woman.
• Shantavia Dawkins transferred to Dayton, coached by Tamika Williams-Jeter, a Woman.
• Nyamer Diew transferred to Colorado, coached by Ali-Marie "JR" Payne, a Woman.
• Mary Kate King transferred to Hawaii-Pacific, coached by Dr. Debbie Snell, a Woman.
After 2022-2023:
• Denae Fritz, transferred to Baylor, coached by Nicki Collen, a Woman.
• Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw, transferred to Montana, coached by Brian Holsinger, Man.
• Lexi Donarski, transferred to North Carolina, coached by Courtney Banghart, a Woman.
• Morgan Kane, Nova Southeastern, coached by LeAnn Freeland-Curry, a Woman.
• Maggie Vick, transferred to Pepperdine, coached by Katie Faulkner, a Woman.
After 2021-2022:
• Aubrey Joens, transferred to Oklahoma, coached by Jennie Baranczyk, a Woman.
• Maddie Frederick, transferred to Nova Southeastern, coached by LeAnn Freeland-Curry, a Woman
After 2020-2021:
• Madison Wise, transferred to IUPUI, coached by Austin Parkinson, a Man.
• Kylie Feuerbach, transferred to Iowa, coached by Lisa Bluder, a Woman.
After 2019-2020:
• Lauren Mills, transferred to Montana, coached by Mike Petrino, a Man
• Gabby McBride, transferred to Western Kentucky, coached by Greg Collins, a Man
14 out of 18(77%) transfers went to teams with Women Head Coaches. Per the AP in 2021-2022 season “Women held just 42% of head coaching positions of women’s teams in NCAA Division I. It seems odd that this high of a percentage of players would transfer to teams with Women Head Coaches. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues.
Someone made this comment in Iowa State forums about Iowa State transfers going to schools that have a Woman as their Head Coach. I decided to look at this and thought y'all would like the results.
After 2024-2025:
• Lily Hansford transferred to Green Bay, coached by Kayla Karius, a Woman.
• Kelsey Joens transferred to Villanova, coached by Denise Dillon, a Woman.
After 2023-2024:
• Isnelle Natabou transferred to FIU, coached by Jesyka Burks-Wiley, a Woman.
• Jalynn Bristow transferred to Texas Tech, coached by Krista Gerlich, a Woman.
• Shantavia Dawkins transferred to Dayton, coached by Tamika Williams-Jeter, a Woman.
• Nyamer Diew transferred to Colorado, coached by Ali-Marie "JR" Payne, a Woman.
• Mary Kate King transferred to Hawaii-Pacific, coached by Dr. Debbie Snell, a Woman.
After 2022-2023:
• Denae Fritz, transferred to Baylor, coached by Nicki Collen, a Woman.
• Maggie Espenmiller-McGraw, transferred to Montana, coached by Brian Holsinger, Man.
• Lexi Donarski, transferred to North Carolina, coached by Courtney Banghart, a Woman.
• Morgan Kane, Nova Southeastern, coached by LeAnn Freeland-Curry, a Woman.
• Maggie Vick, transferred to Pepperdine, coached by Katie Faulkner, a Woman.
After 2021-2022:
• Aubrey Joens, transferred to Oklahoma, coached by Jennie Baranczyk, a Woman.
• Maddie Frederick, transferred to Nova Southeastern, coached by LeAnn Freeland-Curry, a Woman
After 2020-2021:
• Madison Wise, transferred to IUPUI, coached by Austin Parkinson, a Man.
• Kylie Feuerbach, transferred to Iowa, coached by Lisa Bluder, a Woman.
After 2019-2020:
• Lauren Mills, transferred to Montana, coached by Mike Petrino, a Man
• Gabby McBride, transferred to Western Kentucky, coached by Greg Collins, a Man
14 out of 18(77%) transfers went to teams with Women Head Coaches. Per the AP in 2021-2022 season “Women held just 42% of head coaching positions of women’s teams in NCAA Division I. It seems odd that this high of a percentage of players would transfer to teams with Women Head Coaches. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues.
Bill is difficult to play for. That is well known. His style with players may have worked 20 years ago, but this generation is different. So many studies have been done that prove that.
Bill hasn't changed with the times and it is rearing its ugly head. I'm thankful that he changed the trajectory of WBB at ISU, but it's time. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see an announcement about his retirement next week.
