Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
Amy Sander, a 1991 graduate of Genoa High School and current associate head coach for the Minnesota State women’s basketball program, was named the NCAA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) for her role in guiding the program to a fifth-consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
Following her time with the Comets, Sander was a two-time team captain and four-year letter winner in basketball from 1991-95 at Baldwin-Wallace University, where she graduated with a degree in sport management before earning a Master of Education from BGSU in 1997.
Coincidentally, the Genoa girls basketball team made the regional final this past season for the first time since Sander and the 1989-90 team achieved the feat. Sanders even made two clutch free throws late in the regional semifinal to seal a victory over Upper Sandusky.
Sander, who becomes the first coach in Minnesota State women’s basketball history to receive the honor, played a key role in guiding the Mavericks to a 29-3 overall record and a 21-1 mark in NSIC play. The Mavericks captured the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) regular season title, and Minnesota State's season dominance earned the program an opportunity to host the Central Region Tournament for just the second time in program history, the first since its 2009 national championship season.
Working alongside head coach Emilee Thiesse, Sander also helped lead the program to a school-record 27-game winning streak. MSU was ranked nationally throughout the entire season and held the No. 1 ranking for two weeks.
Having completed her 18th season with the program and her 10th as associate head coach, Sander has been part of 360 wins during her tenure, contributing under both Thiesse and former head coach Pam Gohl, winning national titles in 2009 and 2024. In all, Sander has witnessed 40.5 percent of MSU's 889 wins in program history.
"We are incredibly proud of Amy being named Assistant Coach of the Year — an honor that reflects her unwavering loyalty and tireless work ethic,” Thiesse said. “She goes above and beyond as both a coach and mentor, truly investing in the growth of our student-athletes on and off the court. Her commitment to excellence has played a major role in the success of Maverick women's basketball over the past 18 years. This well-deserved recognition is a true testament to Amy's dedication to our program and to the lasting impact she has made not only on the hundreds of student-athletes she has coached, but on everyone associated with the program."
Before joining the Mavericks, the Mankato, Minn. resident served as the head coach for the Nebraska Wesleyan Prairiewolves for three seasons. Nebraska Wesleyan is a member of the NAIA and NCAA Division III.
Prior to her time there, Sander served as head volleyball coach and assistant basketball coach at Buena Vista University from 2000-05. As the head volleyball coach, Sander led the Beavers to a runner-up finish in the 2003 Iowa Conference Tournament and was named the 2003 Iowa Conference Coach of the Year. During her time as the assistant coach for the women’s basketball team, she helped the Beavers to a 91-45 record, including a 25-3 record in 2004-05, with a 16-0 Iowa Conference record.
The WBCA Assistant Coach of the Year award honors one associate head coach or assistant coach in each membership division who exemplifies dedication to their program, student-athletes, and head coach. It recognizes their impact on the court, mentorship of fellow coaches, and professionalism.
