Kim Cameron Pursues Coaching Position at NCAA Division I Level
HOUGHTON, Mich. – Michigan Tech Women's Basketball Head Coach Kim Cameron has stepped down to pursue a coaching opportunity at an NCAA Division I university. The unnamed university is not able to disclose any information until the hiring process is officially completed. While at Tech, Cameron compiled an impressive record of 181-53 and the highest winning percentage (.774) in program history.
"I would like to thank Michigan Tech and every piece and part that makes it so special here," Cameron said. "I was fortunate to have an unbelievable opportunity given to me at a young age. Suzanne Sanregret, Les Cook, and Glenn Mroz took a chance on me and I will forever be grateful for their trust. Being part of the women's basketball program as a player, an assistant coach, and the head coach, has given me my best friends, my first job, and the opportunity to bring others to a place that I believe is the finest on earth. I have worked with amazing people, and been mentored by some of the best in the business. My heart is full because of the experiences I have had here."
Cameron recently completed her eighth season as the Huskies' head coach and during her tenure became the first Division II coach in Tech history to lead a team to a national title game appearance (2011). The 2011 and 2015 GLIAC and 2011 WBCA Midwest Region Coach of the Year boasts the best winning percentage (.774) of any coach in the program's history, a list that includes three Michigan Tech Sports Hall of Famers (Cheryl DePuydt, Kevin Borseth and Darla Olson).
"Kim has been an outstanding leader of our women's basketball program over the last eight seasons, and we thank her for her dedication and hard work to take the program to new heights," Michigan Tech Athletic Director Suzanne Sanregret said. "A National Championship Game appearance, five GLIAC Titles, two GLIAC Tournament Titles, and the highest winning percentage in program history are just a few of the accomplishments the program has achieved under her watch.
"She has built a culture that not only values athletic excellence, but success in the classroom as well. Her players have moved on to great success in their careers and have made an impact in their communities following graduation. We are sad to see Kim go, but wish her the best as she pursues this new coaching opportunity."
In her first season (2010-11), the team vastly exceeded all expectations. Not only did the Huskies compile a 31-3 record (.912 winning percentage), they did so with a group of players that began the season with a combined 12 games of starting experience amongst them.
Tech won the GLIAC North Division with a school-record-best .947 winning percentage (18-1) before claiming the GLIAC Tournament Title. The Huskies also won a third consecutive NCAA Midwest Regional crown before defeating No. 1-ranked Arkansas Tech and No. 18-ranked Northwest Missouri State at the Elite Eight to advance to the National Championship Game. Along the way, Cameron's 2010-11 team set school records for consecutive wins (18) and home wins (18).
Cameron led the 2012-13 team to a GLIAC North Division Title and advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Midwest Regional before falling to the eventual national champion. The 2014-15 squad accumulated 20 conference wins to claim the program's 13th league title. The Black and Gold hosted and won the GLIAC Tournament before hosting the NCAA Midwest Regional, where they suffered just their third loss of the season in the regional semifinal to the eventual national champion Ashland. The Huskies' 28 wins were the fourth-most in school history.
This past season, Cameron guided the Huskies to an overall record of 23-6 while going 17-3 against GLIAC opponents. Tech secured its 15th regular season GLIAC North Division Title and fifth under Coach Cameron. The Huskies advanced to the GLIAC Tournament for the 28th consecutive time and made their 19th overall NCAA National Tournament Appearance. Cameron led the team to four of those.
"Husky Nation has written several chapters in my book of life," Cameron added. "This town, school and program are unique and special in ways that only those who live it, understand. To the community, you have created an atmosphere that makes us proud to play for you. To the past players, thank you for setting the tone and creating the foundation that we try to uphold every day. We have always recruited players that will carry on the tradition here. The teams that I have had the opportunity to coach have given me some of the greatest memories of my life. Each and every player that we were lucky enough to have say yes, were handpicked to make up every team. Thank you for your time and dedication to this program, to me, and to your teammates. This program was built on people, and we've had some of the best."
Prior to Cameron being named head coach, she spent five years as assistant coach at Tech, helping the Huskies to 119 wins and two NCAA Elite Eight appearances. She coordinated the program's recruiting, scouting and travel during that time, and the Huskies won 76.8 percent of their games. They claimed three GLIAC North Division titles, advanced to the NCAA Tournament four times and cut down the nets for two NCAA Midwest Regional Championships.
Cameron graduated from Michigan Tech in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. The Alpena, Mich., native earned four letters as a player for the Huskies from 2001-05, helping the squad to a 71-42 record in her four years and a trip to the NCAA Tournament as a senior. She also received the Harold Meese Award for Sportsmanship as a senior.
Cameron's Accomplishments at Tech
- 181-53 record in 8 seasons (Second Most Wins in Program History)
- Highest winning percentage in program history (.774)
- Five GLIAC North Division Titles
- Two GLIAC Tournament Championships
- Four NCAA National Tournament Appearances
- NCAA Runner-Up (2010-11)
- 2011 WBCA Midwest Region Coach of the Year
- 2011 and 2015 GLIAC Coach of the Year
- 19 GLIAC All-Conference Selections
- 4 All-Americans
- 5 All-Midwest Region Selections
- 1 NCAA Elite 88 Award Winner
- 7 out of 8 years the team earned a spot on the WBCA Top 25 Team GPA List (2nd Place in 2017)
Michigan Tech will conduct a national search to hire its next head women's basketball coach.