Detroit Announces Three Year Extension For WBB Head Coach Autumn Rademacher

DETROIT -- University of Detroit Mercy Associate Vice President and Athletic Director Keri Gaither announced the signing of head women's basketball coach Autumn Rademacher to a three-year contract extension. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“I am extremely pleased with the direction of the Titan women's basketball program under Coach Rademacher's leadership. Her passion for the game as well as for the University and the city of Detroit is evident every day,” said Gaither. “Autumn has brought the same intensity, pride and success back into the Titan program as the head coach of her alma mater as she did when she played for the program.”

“I would like to thank Keri (Gaither) and President Garibaldi for the privilege to coach the Detroit women's basketball team for another three years,” said Rademacher. “ I am extremely grateful that they feel we have the program headed in the right direction and have faith that we will continue to build on the success that we have had both on the court and in the classroom.”

The 2010 Horizon League and 2012 CollegeSportsMadness.com's Horizon League Coach of the Year, Rademacher led the red, white and blue to a 20-14 record this past season and a WNIT appearance. UDM was 14-4 in the Horizon League and finished in second place after being picked to take seventh in the HL's Preseason Poll.  It was the second time the Titans have won 14 conference games during her four years, which tied a school record for the third time.

It was also the first 20-win season for the Titans since 1997, when Coach Rademacher was a star guard leading the squad to a MCC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. The WNIT postseason appearance was also the first since that year.In her four years, she has compiled a 62-65 record with two winning campaigns and double-digit victories in each season. UDM was coming off back-to-back last-place finishes in the Horizon League when Rademacher was hired following the 2008 season. The Titans have now won a playoff game in each of her seasons reaching the Horizon League Championship this past year.The University of Detroit Mercy women's basketball team has posted a number of big wins in that span, including three against nationally-ranked opponents and a road win at the University of Michigan. In fact, three of the Titans' five all-time wins against ranked foes have come in her tenure.

“I know that I would not be in this very fortunate position without the assistance of many people. I would like to thank all the coaches, support staff, administration, fans, player's parents, boosters, friends, and family for their efforts in making our program a success these past four years. Specifically, I would like to thank my assistant coach Emily Samuelson who has been with me since the day I accepted the head coaching job here at UDM,” said Rademacher. “She has played a monumental role in recruiting, academics, and is involved in every aspect of our program. Without her dedication, loyalty, and hard work, we would not have experienced the success we have had. I would also like to thank my assistant coach Mike Geary who has been on our staff for the past three years. He has been instrumental with player development, scouting and with our defense. He brings positive energy and enthusiasm every day and I am thrilled that they will both be back on the Detroit Titans' sideline for the 2012-13 season.”

Her first career victory came at Calihan Hall as the Titans took down No. 23 Georgia, 70-66, in 2008. UDM also beat No. 22 Green Bay, 71-55, in Calihan Hall in 2010 and then had a historical victory on the road defeating No. 9/9 Green Bay, 70-58, at the Kress Events Center in 2012.

The latter victory sent ripples throughout the basketball community as it ended Green Bay's school record 40-game regular season winning streak as well as the Phoenix' 36-game regular season winning streak over Horizon League teams. It was also the Titans first-ever road victory against a ranked team and just the third win against a top 10 program in school history.

“With Coach Rademacher leading the way, I have expectations that she will continue to build on this success and consistently finish in the upper level of the Horizon League and contend for championships.  We are all very excited about the future of Titan basketball,” added Gaither.

Four Titans have earned All-League honors from the HL in her time, including two first-team honorees in Brigid Mulroy (2010) and Shareta Brown (2012). Yar Shayok was tabbed second team in 2010 as well as Newcomer of the Year, while Brown was the Co-Newcomer of the Year in 2012. Sandi Brown was the other Titan to earn All-League honors with her second team selection in 2009.

Rademacher has seen a number of records broken by her squads, including the school's all-time assist total by Jalesa Jones this year as well as the all-time single season points by Brown. Mulroy also set the Titans single-season 3-point total in 2010. UDM also shot a school record 65.5% (38-of-58) against IPFW on Dec. 18, 2011, downing the Mastodons, 90-60.“I would also like to thank all the Detroit Titan women's basketball players for each of their contributions these past four years. Without their daily hard work, determination, and performance on game day, we would not have been able to accomplish what we have. I give all the credit to these young ladies who believed in the coaching staff and brought a great effort and attitude daily. We are extremely excited about the future and I am thankful to have a front row seat to all the games,” added Racemacher.”

As a player, Rademacher ranks as the third-leading scorer in Titan history with 1,686 career points, lettering from 1993-97. She earned MCC First Team honors in 1996 and again in 1997, and was a second team and All-Newcomer Team honoree as a freshman in 1994. She is still in the top 10 in school history in multiple statistical categories including fourth in assists (439) and second in career 3-point field goals (201).

Prior to becoming head coach at her alma mater, she was an assistant at Green Bay for four years, helping the squad to four Horizon League regular-season championships and two postseason titles (2005 and 2007). Before joining the Phoenix, Rademacher spent seven years as an assistant coach at Western Michigan, helping the Broncos advance to postseason play four times, including a berth in the 2003 NCAA Tournament following its MAC Tournament title.

A native of Traverse City and a Third Team All-State selection at Traverse City High School, Rademacher graduated from the University in 1997 with a degree in criminal justice.

(Release courtesy of P.J. Gradowski, Detroit Athletics)