Following two seasons of helping Ashland University's women's basketball team maintain its status as one of the top programs in NCAA Division II,
Jenna Kotas has been named associate head coach, as announced by head coach
Kari Pickens.
"For promoting someone in that position, you obviously look at the body of work that they have put in during that time," Pickens said, "and Jenna is someone who's just always showed up. Whether it is recruiting, showing up for the girls on our team, making them better…or even being involved in the community. Jenna has really poured herself into Ashland, and I think is definitely deserving of this promotion, simply based on the work that she's put in."
Said Kotas, "It's truly an honor. My job as an assistant, associate head coach is to make sure that I make coach Pickens' job easier. Also, my job is just to continue the success that AU women's basketball has had in the past."
Kotas spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach, helping the Eagles to a 68-2 cumulative record and an NCAA Division II national championship in 2022-23. During that national title season, she earned Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Thirty Under 30 honors for the fourth time, as well as WBCA D-II Assistant Coach of the Year.
"Honestly, just learning from coach Pickens," Kotas said about her time so far at Ashland. "Seeing her work ethic, how she operates as a coach and as a mother and as a friend. It makes me think that you can do anything in the world to accomplish anything."
"And just the quality of kids that this program has had and continues to have. The girls that I've been able to help coach and mentor, it makes my job a whole lot easier."
Prior to coaching at Ashland, Kotas was an assistant at Illinois Springfield for three seasons, and assisted at Purdue Northwest, Dubuque and Benedictine (Ill.). She played at both Clarke and Dubuque, and was an honorable mention NCAA Division III All-American as a senior.
In being named associate head coach, Kotas follows in a recent highly-successful line that includes current NCAA Division I Michigan State head coach
Robyn Fralick, Pickens and current NCAA Division I Marshall assistant coach
Stephanie Gehlhausen.
"I feel like Jenna was supposed to here," Pickens said. "I firmly believe God had a plan for her, and for us to be able to work together, and I'm incredibly thankful for the time we've been able to share."
"That's a big group right there," Kotas said. "My job is to follow and succeed in what they've done in the past."
