Original article (Hoyt Named UMKC Head Women’s Basketball Coach) on the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s athletic website umkckangaroos.com.
Jacie Hoyt, assistant coach at Kansas State University, has been named the 10th head coach in UMKC women’s basketball history, Director of Athletics Carla Wilson announced Thursday. She will be formally introduced at a press conference on Thursday, May 18 at 10:30 a.m. CT in Room 302 of the Student Union at UMKC.
Hoyt takes the helm of the Roos program after spending the past three seasons (2014-17) with the Wildcats in Manhattan. Previously, she was an assistant coach at Nevada (2011-14) for three years. She was a team captain and standout point guard at Wichita State from 2006-09.
“I would like to welcome Jacie to the UMKC family,” Wilson said. “After an extensive search with great candidates, Jacie’s strong basketball pedigree and ties to the Midwest and beyond made her an ideal fit. Her sound comprehension of on-the-floor coaching, recruiting experience and quest to develop young women will serve our student-athletes and department well. I could not be more pleased to have her join us in Kansas City.”
While at KSU, Hoyt was a member of Jeff Mittie’s coaching staff that led KSU to NCAA Tournament victories in back-to-back seasons. The 2016-17 squad won 22 games overall and 11 contests in Big 12 Conference play, which marked the highest totals for the program in nine seasons.
“I am extremely honored and excited for the opportunity to be the next head coach at UMKC,” Hoyt said. “I want to thank Carla Wilson, Jessica Dickson, Ursula Gurney, Brian Morris and all members of the search committee for their hard work and belief in me to make this possible.
“I believe that UMKC has all of the necessary resources to build a championship women’s basketball program. It has always been a dream of mine to be a Division I head coach. The opportunity to get to do that in the same region I am from with the support of the UMKC administration feels like a dream come true. I knew from the minute I stepped foot on the beautiful campus and met with administration, support staff and players that it was a special place with special people. I knew I wanted to be a part of that.
“I believe this region of the country to be the mecca of college basketball, and I know some of the most passionate sports fans in the country reside right here in Kansas City. I look forward to connecting myself and our players with the fans and community to share our vision of what is yet to come for UMKC women’s basketball. I strive to continue a culture of excellence academically, athletically and socially for these young women.”
Hoyt recruited and coached seven All-Big 12 student-athletes, including two All-Defensive Team and two All-Freshman Team selections while at Kansas State, including Breanna Lewis, the 23rd pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings. She assisted in all facets of recruiting, scouting, game planning and on-court coaching for the Wildcats. Hoyt also coordinated and managed all areas of the elite, overnight and day camps, in addition to the High School Coaching Academy. She was a Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) 30 Under 30 honoree earlier in 2017.
While with Nevada, Hoyt was an assistant for her college coach, Jane Albright, and was part of a program that achieved the program’s first winning season in three years in 2013-14 and set a program record with 12 victories in Mountain West Conference play. She recruited and coached four all-conference players, including Mimi Mungedi, the 2013-14 Mountain West Co-Defensive Player of the Year and 25th selection in the 2015 WNBA Draft by the Tulsa Shock.
Hoyt was a graduate assistant coach at Fort Hays State during the 2010-11 season, where she recruited and coached two All-MIAA selections. She earned a Master of Science in Communication from FHSU.
As a student-athlete at Wichita State from 2006-09, Hoyt was a team captain for Albright and started every game at point guard during her final two seasons. In 2008-09, she ranked fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference in assists. She earned the 2009 Iron Shocker Award. Hoyt was also a standout in the classroom, earning a spot on the Missouri Valley Conference, WSU Athletic Director and WSU Dean’s Honor Rolls. She graduated Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in 2009.
During her high school years, Hoyt enjoyed one of the most prolific scoring careers in Kansas prep history, finishing with 2,016 points in only three seasons at Hoxie (Kan.) High School. Her career average of 26.6 points per game ranks sixth in state history. As a senior, she averaged 28.4 points, 7.4 assists, 6.3 rebounds and 6.1 steals per game. She was a three-time all-state performer in basketball and volleyball, and was also a state champion in multiple track events.
Hoyt is the daughter of Kansas high school coaching legend Shelly Hoyt, who led Hoxie to a state record 107 straight wins and four consecutive state titles. She is currently the head coach at Eureka (Kan.) High School.
Thursday marks Hoyt’s first official day with UMKC.