ATLANTA, Ga. — Minnesota State women's basketball associate head coach Amy Sander has been named the 2026 WBCA NCAA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year.

Sander played a key role in guiding the Mavericks to their fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, finishing the season with a 29-3 overall record and a 21-1 mark in NSIC play. The Mavericks also captured the NSIC Regular Season Championship after a standout performance in conference play. Minnesota State's season dominance earned the opportunity to host the Central Region Tournament for just the second time in program history, the first since its 2009 national championship season.

Working alongside head coach Emilee Thiesse and the Maverick staff, Sander helped lead the program to a school-record 27-game winning streak. MSU was ranked nationally throughout the entire season and held the No. 1 ranking for two consecutive weeks.

Having completed her 18th season with the program and her 10th as associate head coach, Sander has been part of 360 wins during her tenure, contributing under both former head coach Pam Gohl and current head coach Thiesse, winning national titles in 2009 and 2024.  In all, Sander has witnessed 40.5% of MSU's 889 wins in program history. 

Sander becomes the first coach in Minnesota State women's basketball history to receive this honor.

"We are incredibly proud of Amy being named Assistant Coach of the Year—an honor that reflects her unwavering loyalty and tireless work ethic. She goes above and beyond as both a coach and mentor, truly investing in the growth of our student-athletes on and off the court," said Thiesse. "Her commitment to excellence has played a major role in the success of Maverick Women's Basketball over the past 18 years. This well-deserved recognition is a true testament to Amy's dedication to our program and to the lasting impact she has made not only on the 100s of student-athletes she has coached, but on everyone associated with the program."

The WBCA Assistant Coach of the Year award honors one associate head coach or assistant coach in each membership division who exemplifies dedication to their program, student-athletes, and head coach. It recognizes their impact on the court, mentorship of fellow coaches, and professionalism.