NKU, Thomas More announce NKU’s hiring of Jeff Hans as head women’s basketball coach

Northern Kentucky University and Thomas More University made separate announcements about the selection of TMU’s womens basketball coach Jeff Hans as new women’s basketball coach at NKU. NKU SELECTS JEFF HANS AS HEAD WOMEN’S BASKETBALL COACH HIGHLAND HEIGHTS — Vice President and Director of Athletics Christina Roybal and Northern Kentucky University is excited to welcome back a familiar face as Jeff Hans has been selected as the next head coach of the storied Norse women’s basketball program. For the past 13 years, Hans has been at the helm of the Thomas More women’s basketball team, one of the most successful squads at any level of the sport. He guided the Saints to a 339-42 record overall (.889) to go with eight conference regular season championships, eight conference tournament titles, 11 national tournament berths, two NCAA Division III National Championships, one NAIA National Championship and two NAIA National Runner-Up performances. He also coached two National Players of the Year to go with being named National Coach of the Year himself three times in 2016, 2019 and 2022.

“We are very excited that Jeff will be joining the Norse and leading our women’s basketball program,” Roybal said. “His experience leading a women’s basketball program that has sustained a high level of success at various levels, coupled with his familiarity with our community and the legacy of NKU women’s basketball, made him stand out as the perfect choice to lead our program. Please join us in welcoming back Jeff to Northern Kentucky University.” “I am very grateful for the opportunity to lead the Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball program” Hans said. “I would like to thank President Dr. Cady Short-Thompson, Director of Athletics Roybal and the administrative staff for their trust in me and my staff to lead a program with such rich history. We look forward to creating a positive culture through integrity, trust and gratitude that will lead to success on the court, in the classroom, and in the community. We cannot wait to get started! Norse Up!” “Jeff’s track record of success speaks volumes,” NKU president Short-Thompson added. “He supports his student-athletes both on and off the court, demonstrating unwavering commitment to their growth and triumphs. With deep roots in the community, I am confident he will lead NKU’s women’s basketball program to new heights.” Hans makes his return to Highland Heights after he served as both an assistant coach (2008-11) and graduate assistant (2001-02) under legendary head coach Nancy Winstel for five years in total. During his most recent stint as an assistant with the Norse, he assisted in all areas of coaching, scouting and recruiting as NKU posted a record of 67-23 (.744) with one GLVC Tournament Championship and two NCAA Division II National Tournament appearances. Prior to his time with the Norse, Hans spent four years at the high school level as the head coach at both Lexington Catholic and St. Henry, where he had a combined record of 89-34 (.724) with two district titles and two regional runner-up finishes. Before his successful time at the high school ranks, Hans spent five years as an assistant coach at the college level. He was an assistant at NCAA Division I Indiana State University from 2002-2004, graduate assistant at NKU from 2001-2002 and an assistant at Wilmington College from 1999-2001. Hans, a 1999 graduate from Wilmington College, was just named to the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame as part of their April 2024 class. To go with his Hall of Fame success as a head coach, he has helped his teams go a combined 168-67 (.714) in his eight years as an assistant at the collegiate level. JEFF HANS HAS ACCEPTED NKU WOMEN’S HEAD BASKETBALL COACHING JOB CRESTVIEW HILLS — Thomas More University’s women’s basketball head coach Jeff Hans has accepted the head coaching position at Northern Kentucky University (NKU). Hans is the winningest coach in Thomas More women’s basketball program history, guiding the Saints to a 339-42 record (.889), eight conference regular season titles, eight conference tournament titles, and 11 national tournament berths, including two NCAA Division III National Championships, one NAIA National Championship, and two NAIA National Runners-Up.

“I want to thank Coach Hans for being a great person and coach who has led Thomas More women’s basketball to national prominence. He has brought National Championships to Thomas More, but more importantly has graduated young women who will make a positive impact on society,” said Vice President and Director of Athletics Terry Connor. “I am excited for Jeff and the opportunity he has at NKU; they could not have made a better choice.” Under Hans’ leadership, the Saints made history, winning the Women’s Basketball Division III National Championship in 2016 with an undefeated 33-0 season. Hans was named NCAA DIII Coach of the Year by D3Hoops.com and Sydney Moss was named DIII Player of the Year for the third consecutive year. The Saints were ranked in the top two of six statistical categories as they were first in scoring margin (+37.6), field goal percentage (47.9), assist turnover ratio (1.98) and won-lost percentage (100.0), while ranking second in scoring offense (91.3) and turnover margin (10.91).Thomas More won the PAC regular season and PAC Championship tournament. Hans recorded five consecutive unbeaten seasons in the PAC going 90-0 and was 182-6 overall. He was named National Coach of the Year three times and Conference Coach of the Year five times. In 2019, the Saints made history again winning another NCAA DIII National Championship. Coach Hans was named National Coach of the Year for the second time and ACAA Coach of the Year. Madison Temple was named DIII Player of the Year, All-Great Lakes Player of the Year, ACAA Player of the Year, D3hoops.com First Team All-America, WBCA DIII Coaches’ All-America, was the Jostens Trophy Winner, and the DIII Honda Cup Award winner. Thomas More led NCAA Division III in four statistical categories as it was first in scoring margin (+28.9), field goal percentage (51.8), free-throw percentage (78.5) and win-loss percentage (100.0). The Saints won the ACAA conference tournament.

The Saints won their first NAIA National Championship in 2022 and were the first ever MSC women’s basketball team to win the title. Coach Hans was named NAIA National Coach of the Year, WhoopDirt.com Coach of the Year, and Mid-South Conference Coach of the Year. Taylor Clos was named Mid-South Conference First Team, NAIA All-Tournament Team, and NAIA Honorable Mention All-America. Alexah Chrisman was named First Team All-Conference, NAIA National All-Tournament Team, and MVP of the NAIA National Tournament. Zoie Barth was named First Team CoSIDA All-District Academic and Second Team All-Conference. Courtney Hurst and Emily Simon were named MSC Second Team All-Conference. The team had 10 players earn MSC All-Academic Honors. The team ranked seventh in the country for 3-pointers made per game (9.3), 10th for points (2794), 11th in blocks per game (4.9), 13th in 3-pointers attempted per game (26.6), 14th for field goal percentage (45.2), 16th in turnovers per game (12.7), 18th for points per game (77.6), 19th for 3-point field goal percentage (34.9), and 20th for opponents’ field goal percentage (35.4). Alexah Chrisman ranked ninth in field goal percentage (59.6), 24th for block per game (2.0), and 46th for total rebounds (266). Kelly Brenner ranked 16th in the country for 3-point field goal percentage per game (43.8).The Saints were regular season Mid-South Conference Champions. Overall, in the last 13 years at Thomas More, Hans has coached six National Players of the Year, four Great Lakes Players of the Year, Five All-Conference Players of the Year, two Conference Freshmen of the Year, 43 All-Conference players, 14 All-Region players, 21 All-Americans, and three CSC Academic All-Americans. The University community appreciates all that Coach Hans has done for Thomas More and the women’s basketball program and will follow his coaching career at NKU with great interest. He will forever be a Saint both as a former coach and as a class of 2019 alumnus of the University.