West Virginia hires South Dakota coach Dawn Plitzuweit to lead women’s basketball

Jerry Dipaola | Thursday, March 31, 2022 2:22 p.m.

South Dakota coach Dawn Plitzuweit is seen on the sideline against Michigan in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA women’s tournament Saturday, March 26, 2022, in Wichita, Kan.

Dawn Plitzuweit, who led South Dakota to within one game of the NCAA Tournament Elite 8, has been named women’s basketball coach at West Virginia. Athletic director Shane Lyons said Plitzuweit received a five-year, $3 million contract, with a starting salary of $550,000, plus incentives.

Plitzuweit replaces Mike Carey, who retired March 16 after leading the program for 21 years.

During her six-year tenure at South Dakota, Plitzuweit compiled an 158-36 record, including 83-10 in the Summit League. Named Summit League Coach of the Year three times, she led the Coyotes to three regular-season championships, three conference tournament titles and four NCAA Tournament appearances, plus this year’s berth in the Sweet 16.

In the tournament, South Dakota was a No. 10 seed, but defeated No. 7 Ole Miss, 75-61, and No. 2 Baylor, 61-47, on the Bears’ home court in Waco, Texas. The victory stopped Baylor’s streak of 12 consecutive Sweet 16 appearances.

South Dakota finished this season with a 29-6 record and won the Summit League title in the regular season and conference tournament.

In the Sweet 16, South Dakota lost to No. 3 Michigan, 52-49.

South Dakota eclipsed 20 victories in five of her six seasons, including a 29-6 record this year. Plitzuweit guided the Coyotes to the postseason each year and holds the Summit League records for overall winning percentage (.814) and conference winning percentage (.892).

In 15 seasons as a head coach, including stints at Northern Kentucky and Grand Valley State, Plitzuweit has recorded a career record of 346-129 (.728), including 229-91 (.728) at the NCAA Division I level. She has 14 winning seasons and nine 20-victory seasons, including two in which she reached 30.

“I just cannot wait to get to Morgantown to meet with our team and to connect with them,” she said. “Our mission will be to assist our young ladies in their development on the court, while also helping them become more confident young women off the court as well. I am so excited to grow our program within the Morgantown community and the entire Mountain State.”

“Dawn is a proven winner everywhere she has been, and her track record for sustained success is impressive,” Lyons said. “When we started our search, it was quite obvious that her reputation as a program builder and championship coach put her at the top of our list. Watching her lead her team to the Sweet 16 this year with wins over Ole Miss and Baylor brought her program a lot of new national attention, but those in the know about women’s basketball were not surprised by her success.”