From University of Chicago Athletics
After helping lead the University of Chicago women's basketball team to its second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, second-year assistant coach Olivia Lett was named Division III's Assistant Coach of the Year by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.
The WBCA Assistant Coach of the Year award is presented to one associate head coach or assistant coach in each membership division – NCAA Division I, II, III, NAIA, Two-Year College and High School – who demonstrates commitment to their program, their student-athletes, and their head coach; their impact coaching on court; their mentorship and impact on other coaches; and their professional manner and attitude.
"Nominating Olivia for this award was a no-brainer," Maroons Head Coach Carissa Sain Knoche said. "She is every cliché you could come up with in terms of work ethic, passion, love of the game, and belief in the process to develop and learn.
"One of our team rules is to always leave a place better than when you found it and Olivia has certainly done that with our program."
Lett – who recently accepted the position as head women's basketall coach at NCAA Division III Millikin University in Decatur, Ill. – and the Maroons' coaching staff led UChicago to a perfect 14-0 University Athletic Association record and a 24-3 overall mark en route to an appearance in the NCAA Division III Second Round.
She also helped coach the first UChicago WBCA All-American since 2011-12 in junior forward Olariche Obi, an honorable-mention selection after averaging 12.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per contest.
"It's a great honor to be named assistant coach of the year – it really is a testament to how successful our team has been the last two seasons," Lett said. "Our team and coaching staff worked tremendously hard this year and this is just another honor for the entire group.
"I can't thank Carissa enough for the opportunity, as well as the entire staff and team for an unbelievable two years at UChicago."