Oakland University's athletic department has decided on its new leader for the women's basketball program, bringing in Keisha Newell to steer the ship after her successful three-year tenure with Lewis University's team. According to The Detroit News, Newell led her Division II Lewis University team to the NCAA Tournament for three consecutive years, leaving behind an impressive 69-22 overall record.
Newell, who hails from a Loyola-Chicago background, will take over from Deanna Richard, a former Oakland standout who served as interim head coach for most of the 2024-25 season after Oakland's previous coach, Jeff Tungate, retired early due to health concerns. Oakland's season ended with a 9-22 record, including 6-14 in the Horizon League, and they bowed out in the second round of the Horizon League tournament, as reported by The Detroit News.
"I am incredibly honored and excited to accept the position as head women's basketball coach at Oakland University," Newell expressed in a statement, illustrating her eagerness to foster a thriving program and to witness the blossoming of her new team in the competitive realm of Division I basketball, as per a report by The Detroit News.
Over at Lewis University, a sense of gratitude and respect was conveyed by John Ashaolu, Assistant Vice President for Athletics, who praised Newell's transformative effect on their women's basketball team both on the court and academically. Newell thanked Lewis University for the remarkable journey and extended her thanks to the multiple key individuals who supported her during her tenure, including President Dr. David Livingston and Provost Dr. Christopher Sindt, and especially recognized the student-athletes she coached, as noted by the Lewis Flyers official website.
The Oakland Golden Grizzlies, who have not touched the NCAA Tournament since 2006, are now looking forward with anticipation to a new era under Newell's guidance, while Lewis University has begun its nationwide search for a coach who can carry forward the winning legacy and high expectations set during Newell's reign. Meanwhile, the vacancy at Western Michigan remains the only other Division I women's basketball head coaching opening in the state. Newell's contract with Oakland spans five years and is set at a base salary of $170,923, a slight uptick from Tungate's, as announced in a press release that was shared by the Detroit News.
