The University of Minnesota’s Athletics Director Mark Coyle announced Dawn Plitzuweit as the new head coach of the women’s basketball program on Saturday. The two parties agreed to a six-year deal pending the Board of Regents’ approval.

If the deal is approved, Plitzuweit will become the 13th head coach in the program’s history. The announcement comes after Lindsay Whalen announced she would be stepping down as head coach after five seasons on March 2.

“It is a tremendous honor to be named head coach at Minnesota,” Plitzuweit said in the University’s statement. “Minnesota is a program that I am very familiar with from my previous time in the surrounding area and in the Big Ten. I am looking forward to getting back to the area and meeting the team, alumni and fans. I am also looking forward to reconnecting with local high school and club coaches. I can’t wait to get to work.”

Plitzuweit has coached collegiate basketball for 28 years, 16 of them as a head coach. In those 16 seasons, 15 have ended with winning records. She finished her most recent season at West Virginia with 19 wins and 12 losses.

Previously, she led programs at Grand Valley State (2002-2007), Northern Kentucky (2012-2016) and South Dakota (2016-2022), accumulating a career coaching record of 356-141 (.721).

Plitzuweit won the 2006 NCAA DII championship at Grand Valley State and, in her last four seasons, carried South Dakota and West Virginia to the NCAA tournament. Her deepest run in the tournament was last year with South Dakota, when she took them into the Sweet 16.

“Dawn is a process-driven coach and has coached winning teams at every step of her career,” Coyle said in the statement. “She has recruited Minnesota and has consistently produced teams that compete for championships … I know she is excited to get back to the area and build her program.”