Kent Madsen took over at the beginning of the
season and led the Thunder to 18 wins.
Wheaton (Ill.) athletics photo |
Wheaton (Ill.) athletic director Tony Ladd has announced the
hiring of Kent Madsen as the head coach for the Thunder
women’s basketball team. He becomes the eighth head coach in
51 seasons of women’s basketball at Wheaton. He replaces Beth
Baker, who announced her retirement on May 2 after 25 seasons
as Wheaton’s head coach.
Madsen moves into the head coaching role after serving as the
acting head coach for the Thunder during the 2010-11 season while
Beth Baker was on medical leave. Madsen was named the 2010-11 CCIW
Coach of the Year for guiding Wheaton to an 11-3 record in CCIW
play with a second-place finish. The Thunder compiled an overall
record of 18-6 on the season, as junior standout Laura Karsten
earned Second Team D3hoops.com All-American honors.
Ladd said, “As we went through the process, Kent became
the clear choice in terms of having the total package of what we
were looking for.
“He has a technical knowledge of coaching, a proven
ability to recruit to Wheaton, he has strong organizational skills
and has proven to be a strong spiritual leader and mentor to our
student-athletes over the last several years.” Ladd
concluded, “Kent did an exceptional job last winter, serving
as the acting head coach and we are very appreciative of his
work.”
Madsen has been a member of the Thunder women’s
basketball staff since joining the program as a part-time assistant
coach 1998 and he began serving as the team’s full-time
assistant coach in 2001. He also has served as an assistant
baseball coach at Wheaton since for the past five seasons.
“I am extremely grateful to Wheaton College for allowing
me the opportunity to serve as the women’s basketball coach,"
Madsen said. "It is awesome to coach at an institution that focuses
on Christ-centered education.
“I am also very thankful to Beth Baker for serving as a
mentor to me for several years. Beth has demonstrated the impact a
coach can have on the lives of student-athletes. I appreciate her
25 years of service to Wheaton and the women’s basketball
program. This program has a strong foundation centered on Christ
and I look forward to seeing the program grow, pursue excellence
and build community.”
He is a 1988 graduate of Westmont, earning his degree in
physical education, and holds a master’s in recreation
administration in 2004 from Aurora. Kent and his wife Laurie live
in Montgomery, Ill., with their two children -- daughter Kirsten
and son Trey.