After spending 11 seasons successfully returning the University of Minnesota Duluth women's basketball program to national prominence, Mandy Pearson will take over the reins at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Pearson departs the Bulldog program having compiled an overall record of 208-105 and a .665 winning percentage. The fastest UMD coach to reach the 100 win mark in program history, Pearson needed just 158 games to reach the milestone, and this season reached the 200 win mark. The Bulldogs made six NCAA Tournament runs over Pearson's tenure, including this season's Elite Eight bid and the 2023 NCAA Runner-Up finish, the deepest run in program history. Pearson and UMD were also four-time Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament Champions, including three-straight titles from 2021-23, as well as in 2019.
Additionally, Pearson led UMD to NSIC North Division titles in 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2025-26, and overall NSIC regular season championships in 2019-20 and 2022-23. She has guided 24 NSIC All-Conference players over her tenure with the Bulldogs. Under Pearson's watch, UMD's all-time scoring leader Brooke Olson developed into a four-time WBCA All American, D2CCA All-American and was named the 2023 DII Honda Athlete of the Year.
"The past eleven years in Duluth have brought me an incredible amount of joy," said Pearson. "The amount of support the athletic trainers, athletic department, alumni and Duluth community has given to our staff and student-athletes is indescribable. I appreciate everything that's been done for me personally and for the women's basketball program more than anyone will ever know. To the past and current women's basketball players, you will always have a big part of my heart. Your dedication, effort and willingness to always do more is the reason for all of your successes, and I have been so proud to be your coach."
UMD Director of Athletics Forrest Karr said that the university will begin a national search for Pearson's replacement immediately.
"I am very happy for Mandy and will miss working with her," said Karr. "Mandy has had incredible success here and earned this well-deserved opportunity. She is always prepared and does things the right way, has a rare ability to focus on what matters most, and is ready to be a head coach at the Division I level. Mandy is leaving UMD women's basketball in a strong position and we look forward to continuing the program's proud tradition of competitive excellence."
