Emporia State Lady Hornets | ||||
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University | Emporia State University | |||
First season | 1974–75 | |||
All-time record | 1008–460 (.687) | |||
Athletic director | David Spafford | |||
Head coach | Brian Ostermann (1st season) | |||
Conference | The MIAA | |||
Location | Emporia, Kansas | |||
Arena | William L. White Auditorium (capacity: 5,000) | |||
Nickname | Lady Hornets | |||
Student section | E-Zone | |||
Colors | Black and gold [1] | |||
Uniforms | ||||
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NCAA tournament champions | ||||
2010 | ||||
NCAA tournament Final Four | ||||
1998, 1999, 2010, 2015 | ||||
NCAA tournament Elite Eight | ||||
1998, 1999, 2000, 2006, 2010, 2015 | ||||
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen | ||||
2001, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 | ||||
NCAA tournament round of 32 | ||||
1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 | ||||
NCAA tournament appearances | ||||
1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021 | ||||
Conference tournament champions | ||||
Central States Intercollegiate Conference 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 | ||||
Conference regular season champions | ||||
Central States Intercollegiate Conference 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2008, 2009 |
The Emporia State Lady Hornets basketball team represents Emporia State University and competes in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) of the NCAA Division II. On April 28, 2023, Brian Ostermann was announced as the eighth head coach. [2]
The Lady Hornets annually play a nineteen-game conference schedule that is preceded by an out-of-conference schedule that includes one exhibition game between the Kansas Jayhawks or the Kansas State Wildcats, switching every other year. The conference schedule consists of playing every MIAA member at least once, some twice. Emporia State does, however, play the Washburn Ichabods in the rivalry known as the Turnpike Tussle and the Pittsburg State Gorillas twice a year. [3] [4]
Emporia State Coaching History | ||||
Tenure | Coach | Won | Lost | Pct. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1974–1976 | Caruthers | 30 | 12 | .714 |
1976–1981 | Jones | 89 | 43 | .674 |
1981–1995 | Schierling | 212 | 182 | .538 |
1995–1998 | Stein | 65 | 25 | .722 |
1998–2010 | Schneider | 306 | 72 | .810 |
2010–2018 | Collins | 199 | 58 | .774 |
2018–2023 | Wynn | 93 | 52 | .641 |
2023–present | Ostermann | 14 | 16 | .467 |
Total: 50 seasons | 8 coaches | 1008–460 | .687 |
Emporia State's women's basketball program was established in 1974, one-hundred and eleven years after the university was founded. [5] Since 1974, the Lady Hornets have belonged to three conferences. When the school was a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, they participated in the Great Plains Athletic Conference until 1976, Central States Intercollegiate Conference from 1976 to 1989, back to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference from 1989 to 1991, and when the university was recognized as an NCAA Division II school in 1991, they joined the MIAA. [6]
Linda Caruthers became the program's first head coach, earning a 30–12 record over two seasons from 1974 to 1976. [5] The inaugural game was a 73–52 win against the Washburn Lady Blues, a future-MIAA rival from Topeka, Kansas. ESU would then go on to lose their next game, and first loss of the program, to Fort Hays State – 61–80. For the next five seasons, Debbie Jones took over the helm of the program.
During Jones' first year, the Lady Hornets went 10–10, but then improved to a 15–8 record the following year. [7] For the next three seasons, the Lady Hornets had a combined record of 64–24, leaving Jones with an 89–43 record. While Jones was the head coach, Emporia State won three conference championships. [8]
Early Years 1974–1981 — Year-by-year record | |||||||||
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Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
Linda Caruthers (Great Plains Athletic Conference)(1974–1976) | |||||||||
1974–75 | Linda Caruthers | 13–8 | |||||||
1975–76 | Linda Caruthers | 17–4 | |||||||
Linda Caruthers: | 30–12 | ||||||||
Debbie Jones (Central States Intercollegiate Conference)(1976–1981) | |||||||||
1976–77 | Debbie Jones | 10–10 | |||||||
1977–78 | Debbie Jones | 15–8 | |||||||
1978–79 | Debbie Jones | 25–7 | |||||||
1979–80 | Debbie Jones | 19–10 | |||||||
1980–81 | Debbie Jones | 20–7 | |||||||
Debbie Jones: | 79–32 | ||||||||
Total: | 119–55 | ||||||||
National champion Postseason invitational champion |
When Jones left after the 1980–81 season, Val Schierling took over as head coach for the Lady Hornets until 1995. In his first season, the Lady Hornets finished 17–10, winning the CSIC regular season championship. For the next three seasons, the Lady Hornets had successful seasons, going 49–35. In the 1985–1986 season, the Lady Hornets went 15–15 and the next season went 11–15, making it the first losing season since the program started. [7]
After the 1986–87 season, the Lady Hornets had only three winning seasons from 1987 to 1988 and again from 1989 to 1991. From 1991 to 95, Schierling had a combined record of 45–64. After three consecutive losing seasons, Schierling was fired after the 1994–1995 season. [9] Schierling is the second all-time winningest coach in Emporia State History with a record of 212–182 (.538). [10]
Val Schierling 1981–1995 — Year-by-year record | |||||||||
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Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
Val Schierling (Central States Intercollegiate Conference)(1981–1995) | |||||||||
1981–82 | Val Schierling | 17–10 | |||||||
1982–83 | Val Schierling | 16–10 | |||||||
1983–84 | Val Schierling | 17–12 | |||||||
1984–85 | Val Schierling | 16–3 | |||||||
1985–86 | Val Schierling | 15–15 | |||||||
1986–87 | Val Schierling | 11–17 | |||||||
1987–88 | Val Schierling | 20–9 | |||||||
1988–89 | Val Schierling | 11–19 | |||||||
NCAA Independent | |||||||||
1989–90 | Val Schierling | 21–9 | |||||||
1990–91 | Val Schierling | 23–4 | |||||||
Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association | |||||||||
1991–92 | Val Schierling | 14–17 | 8–8 | ||||||
1992–93 | Val Schierling | 10–16 | 6–10 | ||||||
1993–94 | Val Schierling | 10–16 | 4–12 | ||||||
1994–95 | Val Schierling | 11–15 | 5–11 | ||||||
Total: | 212–189 | ||||||||
National champion Postseason invitational champion |
After the firing of Val Schierling, Cindy Stein accepted the position as head coach. [11] While Stein only coached for three years at ESU, she was able to turn the program around. In her first season, she went 12–14, quickly turning it around to 20–10 the following season, its first winning season since 1991. [12] In her third and final season at Emporia State, Stein led the program to its first conference regular season and tournament championships, as well as the program's first trip to the NCAA Women's Division II Basketball Championship. [11] Stein left to become the head coach of the Missouri Tigers, leaving Emporia State with a 65–25 record. [12]
Cindy Stein 1995–1998 — Year-by-year record | |||||||||
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Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
Cindy Stein (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association)(1995–1998) | |||||||||
1995–96 | Cindy Stein | 12–14 | 6–10 | ||||||
1996–97 | Cindy Stein | 20–10 | 11–7 | NCAA Regional finalist | |||||
1997–98 | Cindy Stein | 33–1 | 16–0 | NCAA National Runners–up | |||||
Total: | 65–25 | ||||||||
National champion Postseason invitational champion |
After being an assistant coach for three years, Schneider was promoted to head coach after Stein left for the University of Missouri. [13] In Schneider's 12 years at the helm, he became the winningest coach in Emporia State history with a record of 306–72. With that record, Schneider lead the Lady Hornets to six MIAA regular season championships, three MIAA tournaments championships, four Regional championships, as well as Emporia State's first NCAA Division II National Championship in any sport. [14] [15] Schneider lead the Lady Hornets to 12 NCAA Tournaments, seven MIAA regular season championships, four MIAA Tournament championships, four NCAA II South Central Regional championships, and two NCAA II Final Four appearances.
In Schneider's first three seasons, he compiled a record of 86–9 overall, and 48–4 in conference play. In those three seasons, Schneider lead the Lady Hornets to three consecutive regular season and conference tournament championships, and to the NCAA Sweet 16 all three years, the Elite 8 All three years, and the Final Four one year. [16] The 2001–02 season was Schneider's only season with less than 20 wins, and not making the post season. [17]
Following his lowest record, Schneider quickly turned the team around. From 2002 to 2006, Schneider lead the Lady Hornets to 20 plus win seasons, and a trip to either the NCAA Sweet 16 or the NCAA Elite Eight. In 2003–04, Schneider led the team to its 5th conference regular season championship since joining the MIAA in 1991, and Schneider's third conference championship. [18] In both the 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons, Schneider led the team to the NCAA Regionals. [7] Between 2004 and 2009, the Lady Hornets had a combined record of 125–46 overall, 72–25 in conference play, won two conference championships in 2007 and 2008, and advance to the NCAA Tournament each of those years.
In the 2009–10 season, Schneider's final season, the Lady Hornets finished with a 30–5 record, 16–4 in conference play, and on to win the NCAA Women's Division II Basketball Championship. [2] The Lady Hornets finished second in the conference regular season and tournament, and won the South Central Regional tournament. In the first game of the Elite Eight, Emporia defeated the Michigan Tech Huskies 62–50. In the Final Four, the Lady Hornets struggled to beat Gannon University, but defeated them 97–94. The Championship game was kept close, with the final score 65–53. [19] Schneider left for Stephen F. Austin, leaving Emporia State with a record of 306–72 (.810), becoming the winningest coach in ESU history. [20]
Schneider coached six NCAA Division II All-Americans and two national players of the year in his twelve years as at Emporia State. Schneider was also the first rookie head coach in the history of the MIAA to win both the regular conference season and tournament titles. [21]
Brandon Schneider 1998–2010 — Year-by-year record | |||||||||
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Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
Brandon Schneider (MIAA)(1998–2010) | |||||||||
1998–99 | Brandon Schneider | 30–3 | 15–1 | NCAA Final Four | |||||
1999–00 | Brandon Schneider | 28–4 | 16–2 | NCAA Elite 8 | |||||
2000–01 | Brandon Schneider | 28–2 | 17–1 | NCAA Sweet 16 | |||||
2001–02 | Brandon Schneider | 16–12 | 8–10 | ||||||
2002–03 | Brandon Schneider | 23–8 | 14–4 | NCAA Regional Finalist | |||||
2003–04 | Brandon Schneider | 24–5 | 15–3 | NCAA Regional Finalist | |||||
2004–05 | Brandon Schneider | 27–6 | 14–4 | NCAA Sweet 16 | |||||
2005–06 | Brandon Schneider | 28–5 | 13–3 | NCAA Elite 8 | |||||
2006–07 | Brandon Schneider | 22–8 | 14–4 | NCAA First Round | |||||
2007–08 | Brandon Schneider | 23–8 | 14–4 | NCAA Sweet 16 | |||||
2008–09 | Brandon Schneider | 26–6 | 17–3 | NCAA Regional Finalist | |||||
2009–10 | Brandon Schneider | 30–5 | 16–4 | NCAA Div. II National Champions | |||||
Brandon Schneider: | 306–72 | 173–43 | |||||||
Total: | 306–72 | ||||||||
National champion Postseason invitational champion |
Jory Collins, who was assistant coach for seven years under Schneider, became head coach in April 2010. [22] In his seven seasons at helm of the Lady Hornets program, Collins has gone on to win five consecutive MIAA Conference tournaments (2013–2017) and has a combined record of 190–50 overall and a 115–37 record in the MIAA. He is the first coach in Emporia State history to advance to seven conference tournament championships and five regional championships in six years. [22] Collins left to join Schneider at the University of Kansas in March 2018. [23]
In his first season, Collins led the team to a 20–9 overall, and 15–7 conference winning season. [24] He led them to the MIAA Tournament title game, which they lost to the Northwest Missouri Bearcats. [22] Collins led the team to a 23–9 overall, and 14–6 conference winning season in the 2011–12 season. [24] With that, the Lady Hornets advanced to their second consecutive MIAA Tournament title game, in which they lost. They also advanced on to the NCAA Sweet 16 where they lost to the Pittsburg State Gorillas. [25]
In 2012–13, the Lady Hornets were preseason ranked 19 in the WBCA poll. [26] During the 2012–13 season, Collins lead the Lady Hornets to an overall record of 23–9, and 13–5 conference winning season. [24] The Lady Hornets won their third consecutive MIAA tournament title game, in which they defeated the Central Missouri Jennies 67–51. [27] This was their fifth tournament win, and first since the tournament moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 2003. They again made it to the NCAA Sweet 16, where they lost to the Augustana Vikings 75–74. [28]
In 2013–14, the Lady Hornets were preseason ranked 9 in the Women's Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 10 Rankings poll. [29] During the 2013–14 season, Collins lead the Lady Hornets finished with an overall record of 30–4, and 16–3 conference winning season. [24] For the fourth consecutive season, Collins coached the Lady Hornets to their fourth MIAA tournament title game, in which they won against the Central Missouri Jennies. [30] The Lady Hornets went to the NCAA Regionals, in which they lost to the Concordia–St. Paul Golden Bears 70–67. [31] At the end of the season in March 2014, Collins was selected as the NCAA Division II Region 7 Russell Athletic/WBCA Coach of the Year. [32]
In 2014–15 season, the Lady Hornets were preseason ranked 7th in the Women's Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 10 Rankings poll. [33] During the 2014–15 season, Collins lead the Lady Hornets to an overall record of 29–5, and 15–4 conference winning season. [34] For the fifth consecutive season, Collins coached the Lady Hornets to their fifth MIAA tournament title game, in which they won their third-straight against the Fort Hays State Tigers 49–46. [35] The Lady Hornets went to the NCAA Regionals, in which they again beat Fort Hays State in the Finals to move on to the Elite Eight. [36] Collins then led the team to the Final Four, where they lost to the California Vulcans. [37] In post-season honors, Collins won the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association "Coach of the Year". [38]
Entering into the 2015–16 season, the Lady Hornets were chosen as the national favorite in both the D-II Bulletin Preseason National Poll [39] and the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, [40] as well as the MIAA polls. [41] The first loss of the season came in December against Fort Hays State, where the Tigers defeated Emporia State 71–70. [42] The Lady Hornets would then go on to lose four more times by 15 or less points. [43] The Lady Hornets ended the regular season 23–5 (17–5 in conference play)finishing in fourth place in the MIAA standings. The Lady Hornets competed in the MIAA Conference Tournament in Kansas City, Kansas, where they won their fourth straight Conference Tournament Championship. [44] The Lady Hornets ended the postseason in their fifth straight Sweet 16, losing to conference rival Pittsburg State, [45] and finished with an overall record of 28–6. [46]
After winning their fourth straight Conference Tournament Championship, the Lady Hornets entered the 2016–17 season ranked fourth in the nation. [47] and the favorite to win in the MIAA. [48] As was the case in the previous season, the Lady Hornets' first loss of the season came in December to Fort Hays State where the Tigers defeated the Lady Hornets by three points. [49] The Lady Hornets would go on to finish out the regular season losing only three more times and winning most games by 10 or more points, finishing the regular season 24–4 overall, 15–4 in conference play tying for second place in the MIAA. [50] The Lady Hornets won their fifth straight MIAA Conference Tournament Championship, [51] and finished the postseason losing the Sweet 16 to Harding. [52]
The 2017–18 season brought some challenges to the Lady Hornets basketball team. Two of the team's seniors were out with knee and ankle injuries that occurred prior to the season. [53] Collins led the Lady Hornets to an overall record of 17–11, and 11–8 conference record, ending a five-consecutive MIAA Tournament championship streak and marking the first time the Lady Hornets did not make the NCAA postseason since 2011. [54]
Jory Collins 2010–2018 — Year-by-year record | |||||||||
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Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
Jory Collins (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association)(2010–2018) | |||||||||
2010–11 | Jory Collins | 20–9 | 18–7 | ||||||
2011–12 | Jory Collins | 23–9 | 14–8 | NCAA Sweet 16 | |||||
2012–13 | Jory Collins | 23–9 | 14–5 | NCAA Sweet 16 | |||||
2013–14 | Jory Collins | 30–4 | 19–3 | T–2nd | NCAA Regionals | ||||
2014–15 | Jory Collins | 29–5 | 15–4 | T–2nd | NCAA Final Four | ||||
2015–16 | Jory Collins | 28–6 | 17–5 | 4th | NCAA Sweet 16 | ||||
2016–17 | Jory Collins | 29–5 | 15–4 | 3rd | NCAA Sweet 16 | ||||
2017–18 | Jory Collins | 17–11 | 11–8 | T–6th | |||||
Jory Collins: | 199–58 | 123–44 | |||||||
Total: | 199–58 | ||||||||
National champion Postseason invitational champion |
On April 6, 2018, Toby Wynn was announced as the seventh head basketball coach. [55] Wynn previously served 13 years as the head women's basketball coach at Seward County Community College where he led the program to a record of 349–84 (.806). [56] In March 2023, Wynn stepped down as head coach. [57]
Toby Wynn 2018–2023 — Year-by-year record | |||||||||
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Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
Toby Wynn (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association)(2018–2023) | |||||||||
2018–19 | Emporia State | 22–9 | 13–6 | NCAA Central Regional | |||||
2019–20 | Emporia State | 24–7 | 15–4 | NCAA Central Regional | |||||
2020–21 | Emporia State | 18–7 | 17–5 | NCAA Central Regional | |||||
2021–22 | Emporia State | 15–14 | 10–12 | ||||||
2022–23 | Emporia State | 14–15 | 9–13 | ||||||
Emporia State: | 93–52 | 64–40 | |||||||
Total: | 93–52 | ||||||||
National champion Postseason invitational champion |
On April 28, 2023, Kansas State Wildcats women's basketball associate head coach, Brian Ostermann, was named the next head coach. [58]
Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
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Brian Ostermann (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association)(2023–present) | |||||||||
2023–24 | Emporia State | 14-16 | 10-12 | T-8th | |||||
Brian Ostermann: | 14-16 | 10-12 | |||||||
Total: | 14-16 | ||||||||
National champion Postseason invitational champion |
Current MIAA members | |||||||||
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Emporia State vs. | First game | Overall record | at Emporia | at Opponent's venue | at Neutral site | Last 5 meetings | Last 10 meetings | Current streak | Since joining the MIAA |
Central Missouri | 1974–75 | ESU, 42–35 | ESU, 22–11 | UCM, 12–21 | ESU, 8–3 | ESU, 3–2 | ESU, 7–3 | W 1 | ESU, 35–23 |
Central Oklahoma | 1989–90 | ESU, 24–6 | ESU, 12–1 | ESU, 8–5 | ESU, 4–1 | ESU, 3–2 | ESU, 7–3 | L 1 | ESU, 13–3 |
Fort Hays State | 1974–75 | ESU, 54–34 | ESU, 26–11 | ESU, 20–19 | ESU, 7–4 | ESU, 3–2 | ESU, 8–2 | W 1 | ESU, 21–8 |
Lincoln † | 1982–83 | ESU, 30–2 | ESU, 18–1 | ESU, 11–1 | ESU, 1–0 | ESU, 5–0 | ESU, 10–0 | W 20 | ESU, 13–0‡ |
Lindenwood | 2012–13 | ESU, 7–1 | ESU, 5–0 | ESU, 1–1 | N/A | ESU, 6–1 | ESU, 6–1 | W 1 | ESU, 6–1 |
Missouri Southern | 1976–77 | ESU, 59–24 | ESU, 34–6 | ESU, 22–18 | ESU, 3–0 | ESU, 4–1 | ESU, 9–1 | W 2 | ESU, 36–14 |
Missouri Western | ESU, 58–35 | ESU, 34–11 | MWSU, 18–23 | ESU, 5–1 | ESU, 3–2 | ESU, 8–2 | L 1 | ESU, 38–21 | |
Nebraska–Kearney | ESU, 33–12 | ESU, 18–3 | ESU, 15–8 | UNK, 0–1 | ESU, 3–2 | ESU, 8–2 | L 2 | ESU, 10–2 | |
Northeastern State | 1989–90 | ESU, 17–6 | ESU, 9–2 | ESU, 7–4 | ESU, 1–0 | ESU, 4–1 | ESU, 9–1 | W 3 | ESU, 10–5 |
NW Missouri St. | 1975–76 | ESU, 43–14 | ESU, 21–5 | ESU, 20–7 | Tied, 2–2 | ESU, 5–0 | ESU, 10–0 | W 10 | ESU, 40–14 |
Pittsburg State | 1974–75 | ESU, 62–29 | ESU, 33–12 | ESU, 24–16 | ESU, 5–3 | ESU, 4–1 | 'ESU, 7–3 | L 1 | ESU, 37–19 |
Washburn | 1974–75 | ESU, 56–47 | ESU, 22–17 | WU, 21–23 | WU, 5–8 | WU, 2–3 | ESU, 7–3 | L 3 | ESU, 32–22 |
† – Lincoln left the MIAA after the 1998–99 season and rejoined in the 2010–11 season. ‡ – Does not include the 1991–1999 seasons. | |||||||||
Since 1974, home basketball games have been played at William L. White Auditorium, a 5,000-seat arena named after William Lindsay White, son of William Allen White. [61] The auditorium is also home to the men's basketball team and the Lady Hornets volleyball team since the program started in 1973. [62] In 2008, White Auditorium received an upgrade with a new scoreboard, video board, and a new paint scheme on the basketball court. [6]
Black | Gold |
Emporia State's official school colors are black and gold. [63] They have been the colors since the school was founded in 1863, and until recently, the gold was Old gold. [64]
Corky the Hornet is Emporia State University's mascot. [65] In 1923 when the Emporia State was named to the Kansas State Teachers College, the athletic teams were called the "Yaps". Many people, including former men's basketball coach Vic Trusler, did not like the name. [66] Trusler suggested to a writer at the Emporia Gazette that the new name should be the "Yellow Jackets". But due to the lack of newspaper space, the name changed to "Hornets". [66]
In 1933, the Teachers College had a student contest where students and staff could design a mascot for the college. Sophomore Paul Edwards, who graduated in 1937, designed Corky. Although hundreds of drawings were submitted, Edwards' Corky, a "human-like" hornet was selected. Corky was published in The Bulletin, the student newspaper for Emporia State University. [66]
Emporia State University is a public university in Emporia, Kansas, United States. Established in March 1863 as the Kansas State Normal School, Emporia State is the third-oldest public university in the state of Kansas. Emporia State is one of six public universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents.
Garin Higgins is an American college football coach and former player. He is the head football coach for Emporia State University, a position he has held since 2007. Higgins previously served as the head football coach at Northwestern Oklahoma State University from 2000 to 2004. His Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers finished as runners-up in the NAIA Football National Championship in 2000 and 2003. Higgins worked as co-offensive coordinator at Minnesota State University, Mankato and offensive coordinator at Northeastern State University in 2006.
The Emporia State Hornets are the athletic teams that represent Emporia State University (ESU). The women's basketball and softball teams use the name Lady Hornets. The university's athletic program fields 15 varsity teams in 11 sports all of whom have combined to win 50 conference championships as well as three national championships. Corky the Hornet serves as the mascot representing the teams, and the school colors are black and gold. Emporia State participates in the NCAA Division II and has been a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) since 1991.
The Emporia State Hornets football program is a college football team that represents Emporia State University, often referred to as "Emporia State" or "ESU". The team competes as a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), which is a conference in the Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The program began in 1897 and has fifteen conference titles. On December 15, 2006, former Hornet quarterback Garin Higgins became the team's 24th head coach, following the resignation of Dave Wiemers. Home games are played on Jones Field at Welch Stadium, located on the Emporia State University campus in Emporia, Kansas. In August 2017, Hero Sports named Emporia State the "best football team in Kansas, regardless of division."
Jory Michael Collins is an American women's college basketball coach currently serving as the head coach for the North Dakota State program. From 2010 until 2018, Collins was the head coach at Emporia State University. Collins led the Emporia State Lady Hornets to eight consecutive winning seasons. Collins is the second winningest coach in Emporia State history with a record of 199–58 (.774).
The 2014 Emporia State Hornets football team represented Emporia State University in the 2014 NCAA Division II football season. The Hornets played their home games on Jones Field at Francis G. Welch Stadium, in Emporia, Kansas as they have done since 1937. 2014 was the 121st season in school history. The Hornets were led by head coach Garin Higgins, who finished his 14th overall season, and eighth overall at Emporia State. Emporia State is a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
The 2014–15 Emporia State Lady Hornets basketball team represented Emporia State University in the 2014–15 NCAA Division II women's basketball season, which was the Lady Hornets' 41st basketball season. The Lady Hornets were led by head coach Jory Collins, who finished his fifth season at the helm of the Lady Hornets. The team played its home games on Slaymaker Court at William L. White Auditorium in Emporia, Kansas, its home court since 1974. Emporia State is a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
Brandon Schneider is an American college women's basketball coach at the University of Kansas. Schneider was previously the head coach, from 2010 to 2015, for Stephen F. Austin State University, and from 1998 to 2010 at Emporia State University, an NCAA Division II school located in Emporia, Kansas, where he led the team to the 2010 National Championship.
The Emporia State Hornets basketball team represents Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas, in the NCAA Division II men's basketball competition. The team is coached by Tom Billeter, who is in his first season as head coach. The Hornets compete in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
The 2015 Emporia State Hornets football team represented Emporia State University in the 2015 NCAA Division II football season. The Hornets played their home games on Jones Field at Francis G. Welch Stadium in Emporia, Kansas, as they have done since 1937. 2015 was the 122nd season in school history. The Hornets were led by head coach Garin Higgins, who finished his fifteenth overall season, and ninth at Emporia State. Emporia State is a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
The Emporia State Hornets baseball team represented Emporia State University in NCAA Division II college baseball. The team participated in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. The teams played its home games on Glennen Field at Trusler Sports Complex, located just north of the Emporia State campus, and are coached by Brad Hill.
The 2015–16 Emporia State Lady Hornets basketball team represented Emporia State University in the 2015–16 NCAA Division II women's basketball season, which was the 42nd Lady Hornets basketball season. The Lady Hornets were led by 6th year head coach, Jory Collins. The team played its home games on Slaymaker Court at William L. White Auditorium in Emporia, Kansas, its home court since 1974. Emporia State is a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
Val Schierling is an American former college women's basketball coach. He coached at Emporia State University from 1981 to 1995. Before coaching at his alma mater, Schierling coached the Chaparral High School girls' basketball team for seven years.
The 2009–10 Emporia State Lady Hornets basketball team represented Emporia State University in the 2009–10 NCAA Division II women's basketball season, which was the team's 36th basketball season. Led by Head Coach Brandon Schneider, who finished his 12th season at Emporia State, the Lady Hornets won the 2010 NCAA Women's Division II Basketball Tournament, claiming the school's first national title in any sport. The team played its home games at William L. White Auditorium in Emporia, Kansas, its home court since 1974. Emporia State is a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
Robert William Fornelli is an American college baseball coach and current head baseball coach at Pittsburg State University. Previously, Fornelli coached at his alma mater Emporia State University from 2004 to 2018 where he guided the Hornets to five Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association regular season championships and two conference tournament championships, 13 trips to the NCAA Tournament, two World Series appearances and a national runner-up finish. Fornelli was the coach at Fort Hays State from 1996 to 2003.
The 2017–18 Emporia State Lady Hornets basketball team represented Emporia State University in the 2017–18 NCAA Division II women's basketball season, which was the 44th Lady Hornets basketball season. The Lady Hornets were led by eighth-year head coach Jory Collins. The team played their home games on Slaymaker Court at William L. White Auditorium in Emporia, Kansas, the home court since 1974. Emporia State was a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
The 2016–17 Emporia State Lady Hornets basketball team represented Emporia State University in the 2016–17 NCAA Division II women's basketball season, which was the 43rd Lady Hornets basketball season. The Lady Hornets were led by 7th-year head coach, Jory Collins. The team played their home games on Slaymaker Court at William L. White Auditorium in Emporia, Kansas, the home court since 1974. Emporia State was a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
The 2018–19 Emporia State Lady Hornets basketball team represented Emporia State University in the 2018–19 NCAA Division II women's basketball season, which was the 45th Lady Hornets basketball season. The Lady Hornets were led by first-year head coach Toby Wynn. The team played their home games on Slaymaker Court William L. White Auditorium in Emporia, Kansas, the home court since 1974. Emporia State is a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
Toby Daryl Wynn is an American former college women's basketball coach, serving from 2018 to 2023 at Emporia State University.leading the Lady Hornets to three NCAA Tournament appearances in five years, and from 2005 to 2018, for Seward County Community College, where he led the Lady Saints to four conference championships, 20-plus wins for 13 consecutive years, and appeared in the NJCAA Tournament in four seasons.