Anchorage, AK – Jody Hensen, who began her coaching career at the University of AlaskaAnchorage as an assistant, has come full circle, as UAA athletic director Dr. Steve Cobb on Wednesday named Hensen the Seawolves newwomens basketball head coach.
Hensen joins the head coaching ranks after eight seasons as an assistant, most recently at New Mexico, where she helped the Lobos to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament in March. The 2002-03 season was her sixth as a Division I assistant, following stints at Clemson(1999-2002), Northern Arizona (1998-99) and Southern Utah (1997-98). She has coached in the last four Womens Division I NCAA Tournaments.
Were excited to have Coach Hensen on board, and were looking forward to her tenure at the helm of our womens basketball program, Dr. Cobb said. She is very well prepared for this opportunity and beat out a great field of candidates. She has demonstrated a commitment to the success of student-athletes, both on the court and in the classroom.
“It is with great enthusiasm that I join the UAA family, said Hensen, who is rated among the nations top 10 rising assistant coaches byWomensHoopScoop.com. Ive enjoyed working with Dr. Cobb throughout the interviewing process and I believe he has a proactive vision for Seawolf women’s basketball. We want to earn a reputation as a team that plays extremely hard with understanding fundamentals and intelligence, and I truly believe the Seawolf program can become anational top-10 contender.
The Homer, Alaska, native started her career as a volunteer assistant on the UAA womens staff in 1995-96. She then joined the UAA mens staff in 1996-97, becoming just the second woman to coach men at a 4-year college and helping UAA to the NCAA Division II Tournament.
Hensen is a 1995 graduate of Northern Arizona, where she ended her career as the schools all-time leader in three-pointers made and ranked in the career top 10 in five other categories.
As a player at Homer High School, she earned 1991 Alaska Player of the Year honors and led the Mariners to three straight Class 3A state titles from 1989-91.
Hensen takes over a UAA team that returns all 11 letterwinners from its 2002-03 team that finished 11-15 overall and seventh place in theGreat Northwest Athletic Conference.