NDSU Names Dickhudt Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach

North Dakota State University head women’s basketball coach Carolyn DeHoff today announced Keith Dickhudt (pronounced dick-hoot) has been named assistant coach. Dickhudt has served as the women’s basketball director of operations since May 2011. 

A native of North St. Paul, Minn. (Concordia Academy H.S.), Dickhudt worked for five seasons under former NDSU coach Tim Miles and current head coach Saul Phillips as a student manager and graduate assistant manager before being promoted to video coordinator for the men’s basketball program.

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NDSU Names Tom Goehle Assistant Women's Basketball Coach

North Dakota State head women’s basketball coach Carolyn DeHoff announced the addition of Tom Goehle as an assistant coach for the 2012-13 season.

Goehle has spent the last four seasons as an assistant women’s basketball coach at the University of Sioux Falls under head coach Travis Traphagen. Together they inherited a program that won only eight games prior to their arrival.

Since then USF achieved tremendous success. During his tenure with the Cougars, the program saw a pair of 18-14 seasons and two consecutive seasons with over 20 wins. In 2011, USF set a single-season record with 27 wins, taking the program to its first NAIA Elite Eight appearance since 2003. Last season the University of Sioux Falls completed its first full season as a NCAA Division II member. Goehle assisted the Cougars to an overall record of 86-37.

His duties at USF included player development, scouting of opponents, and recruiting. Goehle will assist in all phases of the Bison program. His primary responsibility will involve recruiting and on-court coaching. 

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Moss' Career Change Draws Attention

Dale Moss

Undrafted free agents do not typically receive much attention, but that is not the case for former South Dakota State basketball turned football player Dale Moss. With the growing trend of converting college basketball players to NFL receivers and tight ends, Moss' signing with the Green Bay Packers has gained him notoriety before he even steps on the field for his first rookie camp next week. Monday it was the Green Bay Press-Gazette who featured Moss (link). Thursday it was the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel featured Moss (link).

Former Bison Closer Drafted by Frontier League Team

The Traverse City (Mich.) Beach Bums selected former North Dakota State closer Jason Mattila in the first round of the Frontier League baseball draft Tuesday, May 1.

 

Mattila, a right-hander from Butte, Mont., was the ninth overall pick in the draft.  He was 6-4 with eight saves and a 4.88 ERA in 34 appearances over two seasons for North Dakota State.

He transferred to NDSU in 2010 after two seasons at Miles (Mont.) Community College.  He was 3-3 with seven saves, a 3.30 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 30 innings as a senior in 2011.

Mattila struck out a career-high six batters in his May 8 win last year at South Dakota State, where he pitched seven innings for an 8-7 victory in 15 innings.

He graduated from NDSU in August 2011 with a bachelor's degree in sport and recreation leadership.

NDSU's Anderson Featured on SI Golf

North Dakota State women's golfer Amy Anderson was recently featured in the online publication Sports Illustrated Golf.

The junior won her second-straight Summit League Championship MVP last month and is a two-time Golfer of the Year.  On Monday, she was selected for the third-straight season as an at-large participate in the NCAA Women's Golf Regionals.

Click here to read the story and click here to view the photos.

OU Women's Basketball Adds Harbin to Coaching Staff

Lester Harbin, Jr. has been hired as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Oakland, head coach Beckie Francis announced on Monday. Harbin brings experience as both an assistant and head coach, which will help him in his new role with the Golden Grizzlies.

Harbin will play an integral role in Oakland’s recruiting efforts. He will also have responsibilities with scouting and individual player development.

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OU's Watterworth Named to BCAM Academic-Athletics Honors Team

Oakland's Bethany Watterworth was one of five players named to the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Academic-Athletic Honors Team, announced by BCAM on Wednesday. The junior from Lake Orion, Mich. was the only NCAA Division I player to earn a place on the team which honors both athletic and academic accomplishments.

This season, Watterworth led Oakland in scoring with 18.7 points per game, which ranked third in The Summit League and 28^th in the nation. In just three seasons at OU, she has amassed 1,502 career points, putting her in the top 10 in the school’s history. Watterworth was an All-Summit League first team selection for the second consecutive season and has garnered all-league honors every year at OU. She also averaged 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, while ranking among the top 125 nationally in field-goal and free-throw percentage.

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Hildebrandt Signs Pro Contract

Mitch Hildebrandt

Former Oakland goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt, the 2009 Summit League Defensive Player of the Year, signed a professional contract with the Minnesota Stars of the North American Soccer League. The three-time All-Summit League selection will joining the defending NASL champions, who begin the 2012 campaign on April 7. To read more, view Oakland's release here.

IUPUI's Wirkkala Selected to Play in Minority Collegiate Golf Championship

IUPUI senior men's golfer Philip Wirkkala was recently selected to play in the 26th PGA Minority Collegiate Golf Championship at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. on May 11-13. Wirkkala is among 35 individuals selected to play, along with 20 NCAA Division I and II teams from across the country.

It marks the fourth straight year he's been invited to play in the event. In addition to the tournament, participants have the opportunity to attend a Business of Golf Careers Expo at the PGA Education Center the day before the event tees off.

Wirkkala, a native of McCordsville, Ind., is enjoying his best season in an IUPUI uniform with a 78.32 stroke average in 22 rounds this year. Wirkkala fired a career-low round of 71 at the McLaughlin in mid-September, finishing that event with a career-best score of 221 (73-71-77). For his four-year career, he holds an 80.05 scoring average in 66 competitive rounds.

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UMKC Men's Golf Featured on Golfweek

The UMKC men's golf team was recently featured on Golfweek's Web site in an article written by Ron Balicki.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – When you are a Division I program that year in and year out ranks among the top 40 or 50 teams, winning your conference championship is a matter of pride. You want conference bragging rights, at least for a year.

The fact that winning that conference title gives you an automatic invitation into the NCAA postseason is not a major concern. You’re all but guaranteed that invite by your season-long ranking.

But what if you’re not one of those teams?

“Winning the conference championship is a matter of personal pride, no matter how big or how small a school you are,” said Missouri-Kansas City coach J.W. VanDenBorn. “But for teams like us, there’s added pressure because we know it’s probably the only way to get into the NCAA postseason.”

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