Dawn Plitzuweit is the new women’s basketball coach for the Gophers

The Gophers officially introduced Dawn Plitzuweit as the new women’s basketball coach Monday during a press conference at the team’s Athletes’ Village training facility.

“Today it’s not me, it’s Minnesota women’s basketball,” Plitzuweit said after being greeted on the podium by athletic director Mark Coyle.

“Once we learn to compete, that means we have a chance to be at a level where we do special things,” she added. “We have the opportunity to grow and be part of one of the best conferences in the country right now. … We welcome the challenges.”

Plitzuweit comes to Dinkytown after spending a year in West Virginia where she finished 19-12 this season, including a first-round loss in the NCAA Tournament. Prior to taking over the Mountaineers, she spent 10 seasons leading programs in South Dakota (2016-22) and Northern Kentucky (2012-16).

The Coyotes have reached three consecutive NCAA Tournaments under Plitzuweit, including the Sweet 16 last year. The West Bend, Wis., native began her head coaching career at Grand Valley State, Mich., where she won the Division II National Championship in 2006.

Plitzuweit replaced Lindsay Whalen, who resigned earlier this month after going 71-76 in five seasons as Gophers coach, including an 11-19 record this year.

“Thank you to Coach Whalen and his team for what they have done for Gophers women’s basketball,” Plitzuweit said. “I have enormous respect for Lindsay as a player, as a coach and especially as a person. Lindsay is one of us. I look forward to honoring her and all of our alumni and coaches who came before us who laid the foundations for us to build.”

Plitzuweit added: “Our Gophers women’s basketball program over time has celebrated incredible players, incredible teams and had incredible runs. Our program has great energy about that. And we look forward to building there. -above.”

She scouted Minnesota a lot when she was coaching at South Dakota.

“Our program [at Minnesota] is fortunate to have a tremendous recruiting base here in our state and in our region,” she said. “Personally, I was fortunate to recruit and coach in this area for many of my years as a college coach. And I’m really excited to connect and reconnect with a lot of our coaches in this area.”