After former head coach Lisa Carlsen resigned March 10, NIU women’s basketball is coachless following a lackluster 2024-25 campaign. 

With the departure of Carlsen, as well as NIU’s four graduating seniors and two players in the transfer portal, the Huskies are forced to rebuild amid the shifting landscape of NIU Athletics. 

As NIU begins its move to the Horizon League, the Huskies have their work cut out for them while deciding their next leader.

Here are three candidates suitable for the job. 

LEANN FREELAND-CURRY Nova Southeastern University, Head Coach 

The first candidate suitable to take the reins of the NIU women’s basketball team is Nova Southeastern University women’s basketball head coach LeAnn Freeland-Curry.

Freeland-Curry enters her 12th season at the helm of Nova Southeastern and has led the Sharks to a record of 27-7 this season, including an appearance in the NCAA Division II tournament. 

In her 12 seasons with Nova Southeastern, Freeland-Curry has had only one losing season. Freeland-Curry’s worst season with the Sharks was 2013-14, in which the team finished with a record of 13-14.

Furthermore, Nova Southeastern has made the elite eight in the NCAA Division II tournament four times under Freeland-Curry’s direction. 

Freeland-Curry also brings experience from the Midwest region, as she spent four seasons at the University of Indianapolis before getting hired at Nova Southeastern.

During the 2008-09 season at UIndy, Freeland-Curry led Indianapolis to its first Sweet Sixteen appearance in program history. 

With Freeman-Curry’s history of success in running a Division II juggernaut,  combined with her experience recruiting in the Midwest, Freeman-Curry could be the perfect replacement for Carlsen. 

KAITLYN CRESENCIA Lehigh University, Associate Head Coach

Lehigh University associate head coach Kaitlyn Cresencia enters her third season with the Hawks and her first as the associate head coach. 

This season, Lehigh finished with a 27-7 record, including a March Madness appearance. Despite getting blown out by Duke University in the first round of the tournament, Lehigh overwhelmed its competition this season. 

The Hawks were dominant in the Patriot League this season, going 15-3 in conference. 

At Lehigh, Cresencia has also had a hand in developing its players. For example, Cresencia helped then-senior guard/forward Frannie Hottinger earn the Hawks’ first Patriot League Player of the Year selection since 2011. 

Given the impact Cresencia has had on the Hawks women’s basketball program, she would be a great – and realistic – option while targeting new potential hires. 

EMILEE THIESSE Minnesota State University-Mankato, Head Coach 

The second candidate is Minnesota State University-Mankato women’s basketball head coach Emilee Thiesse, who enters her 13th season as the head coach of the Mavericks. 

The Thiesse-led Mavericks finished this season with a 25-8 record, including an appearance in the NCAA Division II tournament. In the tournament, the Mavericks were booted in the second round. 

Despite falling short this season, Thiesse has a history of success. Led by Thiesse, Minnesota State picked up its second national championship victory in program history last season. 

Aside from winning last year’s national championship, Thiesse sports four appearances in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division II tournament. 

Although Thiesse would be an excellent candidate for the role, a five-year contract extension which began July 1 makes her a less realistic option.