It was an abrupt ending for first-year women’s basketball head coach Dawn Plitzuweit.
It was announced on Saturday that Plitzuweit would be heading to Minnesota to accept the same position. West Virginia Director of Athletics Wren Baker thanked Plitzuweit for her service to the Mountaineers and was understanding of her move to the Gophers.
“Earlier today I met with Coach Plitzuweit, and she informed me she will be departing our basketball program to pursue an opportunity with the University of Minnesota. This move allows her to be closer to her home and her family, and we understand and respect that,” Baker said.
Plitzuweit is originally from West Bend, Wisconsin. She will now return to the midwest area with the Gophers.
“I want to thank Coach Plitzuweit for the positive impact she made on our women’s basketball program this year,” Baker continued. “I also want to thank our women’s basketball student-athletes for the pride they have and the effort they give in competing for West Virginia University. Our student-athletes deserve the best, and we will immediately begin a national search for our next head coach. We have a proud tradition, and our program is well positioned for the future. I am confident we will identify an outstanding leader to build on our success and take WVU women’s basketball to even greater heights.”
Plitzuweit and the Mountaineers had their season come to an end yesterday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. This was on the heels of a Sweet Sixteen run at South Dakota a year ago, before being announced as WVU’s head coach last spring.
Baker will hold a press conference on Monday, March 20 to discuss the opening for the women’s basketball head coaching position.
