Former Drake University head coach Lisa Stone will take over the vacant University of Wisconsin women’s basketball head coaching position as of April 1. UW Director of Athletics, Pat Richter made the announcement in a Monday press conference just over one month after the resignation of head coach Jane Albright.
“Our search committee was simply overwhelmed by Lisa’s vision for this program and her passionate desire to be our women’s basketball coach,” Senior Associate Athletic Director Jamie Pollard said. “Lisa is a proven winner, has impeccable integrity in the areas of academic commitment and compliance and is an enthusiastic promoter of her program.”
Stone announced her resignation Monday from the Drake University program, after three successful seasons, and her acceptance of the position at UW. She led the Bulldogs to a 64-27 record in three seasons including a 25-8 mark in 2002 and a Sweet 16 appearance in the 2002 NCAA Tournament. In 18 years of coaching, Stone has compiled a 375-118 (.761) record ranking her as the ninth winningest active Division I head coach.
Beginning her coaching career at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, Stone led the Ram’s to three consecutive Southern Division titles in the Midwest Conference. After establishing herself as a premiere head coach in three years at Cornell, Stone returned to Wisconsin to coach UW-Eau Claire. Immediate success ensued as the Blugolds made it to the Division III Elite Eight in her first season. In 12 years at UW-Eau Claire, Stone led the Blugolds to a 277-59 record, 11 appearances in the Division III NCAA Tournament including two Sweet Sixteens, four Elite Eights, one Final Four and one Championship game appearance. She was also named the WIAC Coach of the Year five times and led her 1999-00 team to 28 straight victories.
In 2000-01 Stone accepted the head coaching position at Drake University and won 23 games en route to an NCAA tournament appearance while garnering a Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year award. In three years at Drake, Stone compiled a 64-27 record, leading the team to the 2001 MVC regular season championship and two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
“I have had three very memorable and wonderful years at Drake,” coach Stone said. “I want to thank them for all they’ve done for my family and I.”
While at Drake, Stone was honored in 2002 by receiving an invitation to join Team USA as an assistant coach. The team won the gold medal at the World Championships for Young Women Qualifying Tournament in Brazil.
Stone was also an honored athlete in her playing days, earning four varsity letters in tennis, basketball and track. She led the Oregon Panthers to the Wisconsin State Basketball Tournament in 1979 and 1980 earning a first team All-State honor her senior year. Stone attended the University of Iowa from 1980-84 earning a bachelor’s degree before going on to a masters degree in athletic administration in 1986. She was a four year point guard, scoring 1,129 points and ranking as Iowa’s seventh all-time assist leader and sixth in steals. Stone was a three time captain for the Hawkeyes and was twice named the team’s most valuable player.
As a coach Stone’s teams have notoriously ranked among the nations hardest working both on the floor and in the classroom. Her 2000-01 Drake team boasted a cumulative 3.298 grade point average while winning 23 games that season.
Last season Stone finished her 18th consecutive year of coaching without a losing season as Drake went 16-12. Throughout her career she has moved up the coaching ranks, established a premier Division III powerhouse in UW-Eau Claire and led a Division I school to consecutive NCAA Tournament berths.
Stone will coach Wisconsin through 2008 as she signed a five-year contract. Her husband and two children will return to Wisconsin with her.
“I’m extremely thrilled to be at Wisconsin. It’s a dream come true for me to be able to come home and bring my family home,” Stone said. “I have bled red and have had a desire to be at Wisconsin my entire life.”
