The University of South Dakota has found a new head women’s basketball coach. On Monday evening, it was confirmed that Carrie Eighmey would be leaving the University of Idaho to take the open position in Vermillion with the Coyotes.
Eighmey has 12-years of head coaching experience. While the job at USD is the first division one opportunity for her, she has a lot of experience and success in DII. Before transitioning to Idaho in 2023, she spent eight years coaching at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. Eighmey led the Lopers to the DII NCAA tournament in her final three seasons there, which included a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2020-21.
“I am honored to accept the role as the head coach of the South Dakota women’s basketball program. There is a long history and tradition of success and excellence here, and I couldn’t be more excited to have the opportunity to continue building on that tradition,” Eighmey explained in a release sent out by the USD athletic department. “I have followed this program for many years and I’ve always been impressed by the support of the Coyote fan base. I am excited to get to work and see what we can build together.”
Eighmey will replace Kayla Karius, who recently departed USD to take the head women’s coaching job at the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay.
Since transitioning to Division I in 2008, the USD women’s basketball team has qualified for the NCAA tournament five times – one of which was a Sweet 16 appearance under Dawn Plitzuweit in 2022, who is now the head coach at the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities.
Carrie Eighmey is the 12th head women’s basketball coach in USD’s history, their fifth in the DI era.
