It’s not often a Division III basketball program gets the chance to hire an assistant coach with a decade plus of coaching experience – and has previously served as a recruiting coordinator for a successful college program. Such is the case at Hamline University, though, with the hiring of Naomi Stohlmann as the new women’s assistant basketball coach. The former Concordia College star will be reunited with HU head coach Kerri Stockwell for the 2013-14 season in a fulltime role.
 
The pair previously worked together at North St. Paul High School.
 
“I am grateful for becoming a part of the Hamline community,” Stohlmann said. “I am excited to assist Coach Stockwell and the Hamline Women’s Basketball program continue to build on the great things already in place and I look forward to making a positive impact.”
 
Stohlmann enters the job with a working knowledge of the MIAC. She spent two seasons as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Gustavus Adolphus. Each year, the Gusties made an appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament. She had a similar job for a pair of seasons at North Dakota State (the team won 53 games and advanced to a NCAA D-II title game in that time frame).
 
“Naomi brings in a wealth of experiences that will positively impact our program immediately,” Stockwell said. “Her passion for the game itself and for the development of the players is clearly evident.“ Stohlmann has already started her duties learning about the Pipers, who return nine players from the 2012-13 team that defied prognosticators with a late-season spurt, winning eight of their last nine games to make the MIAC playoffs.
 
Hamline University belongs to the NCAA Division III Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, one of the most competitive conferences in the nation. Hamline supports 19 intercollegiate athletic teams for men and women. Find out more about Hamline athletics at www.hamline.edu/athletics.