To introduce the fifth head coach in Blugold women’s basketball program history, an introductory press conference was held at The Sonnentag Center on Tuesday, April 7 for the next head coach, Hannah Iverson.
Iverson spent the past seven seasons as the head coach of the women’s basketball program at UW-Stout, where she guided the Blue Devils to a 125-74 in that time. Under Iverson, the Blue Devils reached the NCAA Division III Final Four in 2025 for the first time in program history.
Alongside Iverson, the press conference recognized the hiring of the programs’ new associate head coach, Kyleigh Fanning – who spent 10 years on the Blue Devils’ coaching staff after playing for the team from 2012-2016.
After the press conference, Fanning said the past couple of weeks leading up to Tuesday had been a whirlwind, but she was ready to get to work.
“We see a huge future in front of us here at Eau Claire and think the possibilities are endless of what we could build here,” Fanning said.
The press conference began around 3 p.m. with UW-Eau Claire’s Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations Nick Hoven making a few remarks before introducing Interim Chancellor Michael Carney.
In his speech, Carney said he spoke with Iverson during the interview process. Carney discussed Iverson’s roots in Eau Claire and her familiarity with the program, as she is an Eau Claire native and Eau Claire North High School graduate.
“[Iverson’s] heart and soul are clearly in Eau Claire,” Carney said.
UW-Eau Claire Director of Athletics Jason Verdugo followed Carney and spoke about the hiring process and what stuck out to him while talking with Iverson.
Verdugo, in his opening remarks, thanked Carney for his support throughout the process alongside university colleagues and his administrative team who assisted in the interviewing cycle.
Verdugo said he characterizes Iverson as a builder of humans and someone who brings a presence of belief in her athletes.
“When you talk with [Iverson], you will certainly feel her purpose,” Verdugo said. “You will see that she will elevate every person [who] she comes in contact with.”
Verdugo said one of the prominent things for him during the interviewing process for Fanning was her teaching experience. In her time at UW-Stout, Fanning was a lecturer in the College of Arts and Human Sciences.
“[Fanning’s] someone that understands the power of relationships and building a championship culture,” Verdugo said.
After the end of Verdugo’s speech, Iverson and Fanning joined Verdugo on the stage, where they held Blugold jerseys for pictures. Iverson stayed on the stage for her speech and opened by thanking the search committee for believing in her.
Iverson recognized former Head Coach Tonja Englund, who led the Blugolds for 26 years and left the program with a career record of 427-265.
“What [Englund] built here goes far beyond wins and losses; it’s about the culture,” Iverson said. “That standard has defined this program.”
Iverson acknowledged her family, including her husband Ryan and their four children. In her speech, Iverson said she believes the program belongs at the top of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC).
“I believe we will compete for national championships,” Iverson said. “We will hang banners, and we will become a cornerstone of the WIAC.”
Iverson has experience with hanging banners. Under Iverson, UW-Stout was the 2023 WIAC regular season champion and 2024 WIAC tournament champion.
Iverson enjoyed success as an athlete, where at UW-Green Bay she was a part of the women’s basketball program that reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament in 2011. Iverson is in the top 10 for most games played in UW-Green Bay program history.
More news will come about additional coaching staff hires, as Iverson and Fanning are currently the only coaches on the staff for the 2026-27 season.
Benes can be reached at [email protected].
