Fort Hays State assistant women’s basketball coach Carrie Hofstetter has accepted the position as head coach of the Hastings College women’s basketball program in Hastings, Neb. Hofstetter returns to her alma mater, where she was a member of three NAIA national championship teams, twice as a player and once as a coach. Hofstetter was an assistant at Fort Hays State for the past four years.
Hofstetter has been an assistant coach for a total of eight years, all under Fort Hays State head coach Tony Hobson. She helped Hastings College to two national championships (2002 & 2003) as a player under Hobson, then joined his coaching staff following her playing career and helped guide Hastings to a national championship as a coach in 2006. She came with Hobson to Fort Hays State when he was announced as the head coach of the Lady Tigers in 2008.
While at Fort Hays State, Hofstetter helped the Lady Tigers to three MIAA Tournament appearances and most recently a 20-9 mark for the 2011-12 season, the best season so far in Hobson’s tenure at FHSU. The 20-9 record marked the best season for the FHSU women’s program since 2005-06 and the best since joining the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
“Carrie has been a trustworthy and loyal assistant for me for eight years, and deserves the opportunity that Hastings College has given her,” said Hobson. “The fact that she had so much success there as both a player and assistant coach made it an attractive job for her, and a great hire for them. She has done an excellent job in her time at FHSU in all aspects of our program, and I will certainly miss her.”
A native of Edgar, Neb., Hofstetter had an impressive career as a player at Hastings. She helped the program to a record of 121-22 in her four years at the school. She was a first team all-conference selection in 2003 and 2004, and an NAIA National All-Tournament Team selection three years from 2002-2004. She was the Great Plains Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a NAIA First Team All-American in 2004 as a senior. Also during her senior year, Hofstetter was named the FCA Central Nebraska Athlete of the Year, a member of the Omaha World Herald All-Nebraska Team, and received the NAIA Champions of Character Award. She still owns school records for career assists and steals. Hofstetter was inducted into the Hastings College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010 along with Hobson. She played her prep career at Sandy Creek High School helping her school to four state titles in girls basketball, while never losing a single game.
– FHSU Athletics –