The University of Minnesota's national search for a new women's basketball coach – after Lindsay Whalen's departure – may point to Wisconsin native Dawn Plitzuweit.
Multiple reports suggest Plitzuweit, who led the West Virginia Mountaineers to the NCAA women's tournament this season – her first at the Big 12 school – is a leading candidate to be named head coach of the Minnesota women's team.
The Star Tribune reports that an announcement could come Saturday.
West Virginia lost to Arizona 75-62 in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday. West Virginia (19-12) was the No. 10 seed against the seventh-seeded Wildcats.
West Virginia athletics director Shane Lyons announced after hiring Plitzuweit a year ago that she received a five-year contract worth a total of $3 million
Before West Virginia, Plitzuweit went 158-36 in six seasons at South Dakota, leading the Coyotes to the NCAA tournament four times. She was the three-time Summit League coach of the year.
In the 2022 NCAA tournament, South Dakota beat Ole Miss in the first round and then upset No. 2 Baylor in the second round before losing to Michigan in the Sweet 16.
Plitzuweit is originally from West Bend, Wisconsin.
Minnesota began a national search for a new coach after, according to Minnesota athletics director Mark Coyle, he and Lindsay Whalen "mutually agreed" that it was time for Whalen to step down after five years leading her alma mater.
Whalen has yet to publicly address her departure.
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