Hokies earn recognition for their work in the classroom from WBCA

ATLANTA (July 20, 2022) – South Dakota State University, Fort Hays State University, Emerson College, Hastings College, and Dawson and Umpqua Community Colleges sit atop their respective divisions in the 2021-22 WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Rolls announced today by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.

The WBCA Academic Top 25 recognizes NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA and two-year college women's basketball teams across the nation that carry the highest combined GPAs inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. The 2021-22 season is the 27th in which the WBCA has compiled the honor rolls.

This year's release marks the first year in which all teams which reported a minimum 3.0 GPA also are recognized for their academic accomplishment.

South Dakota State, coached by Aaron Johnston, finished first among NCAA Division I members with a 3.837 cumulative team grade-point average. Fort Hays State, coached by Tony Hobson, claimed top academic honors in NCAA Division II with a 3.814 GPA. Emerson, coached by Bill Gould, took top honors in NCAA Division III with a 3.840 GPA. Hastings, coached by Jina Douglas, was No. 1 in the NAIA division with a 3.901 GPA. Dawson, coached by Romeo Lagmay, and Qumpqua, coached by Dave Stricklin, share top honors among two-year college members with 3.490 GPAs.

"The WBCA family of coaches is committed to the student-athlete experience and celebrates these teams that have demonstrated excellence in the classroom," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew.  "This year's WBCA Academic Top 25 is a powerful list of teams and their head coaches who have winning cultures that prepare their student-athletes for success in life.

"We are also pleased this year to recognize all teams that achieved the minimum 3.0 combined GPA required for nomination. That alone is no small feat considering the rigors of playing college athletics."

Here are the 2021-22 WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Rolls by division. The head coach listed for each institution was its head coach during the 2021-22 season. Teams having a 3.0 combined GPA and qualifying for consideration in their respective divisions are also listed as special mentions.

NCAA Division I

Special Mention: University of Northern Iowa, Tanya Warren, 3.546; Montana State University, Tricia Binford, 3.545; University of Vermont, Alisa Kresge, 3.541; Drexel University, Amy Mallon, 3.538; University of Utah, Lynne Roberts, 3.530; University of San Francisco, Molly Goodenbour, 3.526; Washington State University, Kamie Ethridge, 3.523; Yale University, Allison Guth, 3.520; University of Toledo, Tricia Cullop, 3.519; DePaul University, Doug Bruno, 3.510; Cornell University, Dayna Smith, 3.502; Canisius College, Sahar Nusseibeh, 3.493; Michigan State University, Suzy Merchant, 3.481; Davidson College, Gayle Coats Fulks, 3.479; University of Alabama at Birmingham, Randy Norton, 3.478; Fordham University, Stephanie Gaitley, 3.466; Manhattan College, Heather Vulin, 3.466; Kent State University , Todd Starkey, 3.456; Middle Tennessee State University, Rick Insell, 3.454; Georgetown University, James Howard, 3.453; Portland State University, Chelsey Gregg, 3.451; Creighton University, Jim Flanery, 3.444; University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Lindy La Rocque, 3.428; Houston Baptist University , Donna Finnie, 3.420; Stanford University, Tara VanDerveer, 3.417; Rice University, Lindsay Edmonds, 3.415; Quinnipiac University, Tricia Fabbri, 3.405; New Jersey Institute of Technology, Mike Lane, 3.404; University of Akron, Melissa Jackson, 3.404; Georgia State University, Gene Hill, 3.403; University of Tennessee, Kellie Harper, 3.397; University of Richmond, Aaron Roussell, 3.395; Florida Gulf Coast University, Karl Smesko, 3.393; Rider University, Lynn Milligan, 3.392; Eastern Washington University, Joddie Gleason, 3.387; University of San Diego, Cindy Fisher, 3.369; Saint Joseph's University, Cindy Griffin, 3.361; Kansas State University, Jeff Mittie, 3.357; Gonzaga University, Lisa Fortier, 3.355; Fairfield University, Joe Frager, 3.350; Florida State University, Sue Semrau, 3.336; Indiana University, Teri Moren, 3.329; University of Kansas, Brandon Schneider, 3.326; Liberty University, Carey Green, 3.314; Indiana State University, Chad Killinger, 3.314; Binghamton University, Bethann Ord, 3.311; University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Fred Batchelor, 3.298; Saint Mary's College, Paul Thomas, 3.291; University of South Carolina, Dawn Staley, 3.289; University of Notre Dame, Niele Ivey, 3.280; Dartmouth College, Adrienne Shibles, 3.249; University of Central Florida, Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, 3.239; Texas State University, Zenarae Antoine, 3.237; Seton Hall University, Anthony Bozzella, 3.232; La Salle University, Mountain MacGillivray, 3.222; Florida Atlantic University, Jennifer Sullivan, 3.220; University of Michigan, Kim Barnes Arico, 3.220; University of Colorado, JR Payne, 3.217; University of Nebraska, Amy Williams, 3.204; Western Carolina University, Kiley Hill, 3.202; Coastal Carolina University, Jaida Williams, 3.198; University of New Mexico, Mike Bradbury, 3.193; Stony Brook University, Ashley Langford, 3.185; Longwood University, Erika Lang-Montgomery, 3.181; University of Florida, Kelly Rae Finley, 3.170; University of Minnesota, Lindsay Whalen, 3.151; University of California, Berkeley, Charmin Smith, 3.146; University of the Pacific, Bradley Davis, 3.143; Sacred Heart University, Jessica Mannetti, 3.142; Appalachian State University, Angel Elderkin, 3.131; University of Kentucky, Kyra Elzy, 3.096; Lamar University, Aqua Franklin, 3.092; Texas Tech University, Krista Gerlich, 3.088; San Diego State University, Stacie Terry, 3.087; University of Louisiana Monroe, Brooks Williams, 3.086; Vanderbilt University, Shea Ralph, 3.085; North Carolina State University, Wes Moore, 3.084; Western Kentucky University, Greg Collins, 3.083; University of North Carolina Asheville, Honey Brown, 3.079; University of California, Irvine, Tamara Inoue, 3.064; Missouri State University, Amaka Agugua-Hamilton, 3.027.