The University of North Dakota announced this week that Hailey Hohenecker will assume the role of director of basketball operations for the Fighting Hawks women's program beginning with the 2026‑27 season.
Hohenecker arrives after a standout tenure as an assistant coach at Iowa Central Community College, where she helped turn a 7‑21 squad into a 22‑9 contender in a single year, a turnaround that caught the attention of collegiate athletic directors across the Midwest.
In that role she oversaw player skill development, coordinated strength and conditioning workouts, managed film analysis and scouting, handled team travel logistics, maintained social‑media channels, and contributed to fundraising initiatives that expanded the program’s resources.
Her playing background adds another layer of credibility; Hohenecker spent five seasons at the collegiate level, suiting up for St. Thomas, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Chicago State University, where she capped her career by earning Most Valuable Player honors in the 2024‑25 season.
A New Chapter for the Fighting Hawks
Beyond the court, she has led summer camps for youth and collegiate teams, competed in the Eurobasket Summer League in Portugal, and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a business management degree from Chicago State University.
"I am thrilled to join the University of North Dakota and to work with a group of student‑athletes who are hungry to reach their full potential," Hohenecker said in a statement released by the athletics department. "My goal is to provide the support and resources they need to excel both on and off the court."
The appointment marks a strategic move by North Dakota women's basketball to build on recent momentum, leveraging Hohenecker’s blend of playing experience, coaching acumen, and administrative skill to elevate the program’s competitiveness in the Summit League.