RIPON, Wis. - Molly Kneip-Maurer '03 is one of just two players in the history of Ripon's women's basketball program to earn All-Conference honors in all four years with the team, receiving First Team honors in each of her final three seasons. A three-time Team Captain, Kneip-Maurer was inducted into Ripon's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.

"Ripon College was my home away from home, and the minute I stepped foot on campus and met with Coach Julie Johnson, I knew this was the place for me. It provided me with competition after high school, coaches that became friends, teammates that became like "sisters," and a community of like-minded people that I had never experienced before," Kneip-Maurer said. "Being a student-athlete at Ripon College made me appreciate how important relationships are, and Coach Johnson's drive, work ethic, and determination are all traits I took with me into my own life and career. You aren't just a number at Ripon. You are a valued student. Ripon College Athletics will always have a special place in my heart and it's always a great day to be a Red Hawk." 

Kneip-Maurer had many great days as a Red Hawk, as she is one of just 12 players in program history to score more than 900 points, ranking 12th in school history (948). She also still ranks second in Ripon's career record book for assists (335), third in 3-pointers made (150), and ninth in steals (161). Kneip-Maurer is the only player in program history to record at least 100 assists in more than one season. She also holds two of the top 10 single-season 3-point field goal totals and 3-point percentages in program history.

Out of all of her successful seasons and games, one specific memory that stands out to Kneip-Maurer was a play that was unsuccessful.

"While our team had a substantial lead in a holiday tournament, (fellow Ripon Hall of Famer) Karin Kedrowski '03 and I decided during a timeout that we were going to try to convert a tip-in play. She was going to lead the break and after I followed her, I would catch her pass off the backboard and tip it in the basket," Kneip-Maurer said. "The pass off the backboard was great, but I totally botched the shot and Coach Johnson was so mad that she spit her gum on the floor while yelling at us, then proceeded to put it back in her mouth, and benched both of us. It's funny now, but not so much when it happened."

The year after she graduated from Ripon, Kneip-Maurer got the opportunity to see "how the other half lives", as she became an assistant coach for the Red Hawks under Johnson. That helped put certain things into perspective for Kneip-Maurer, as she viewed things differently through a coach's eyes.

"Going from being a player to a coach in a matter of a few months was a very rewarding experience. It helped me appreciate the time, dedication, and energy that Coach Johnson put into her teams and players," Kneip-Maurer said. "I was so proud to be part of Ripon's 2004 MWC Championship team as a coach, and many of those players are some of my very close friends still today."

Needless to say, Coach Johnson, who is a fellow Ripon Athletics Hall of Fame member, left a lasting impact on Kneip-Maurer as her mentor, coach, friend, and colleague.

"Despite her small stature, Coach Johnson was fierce and mighty. She had fight, pizzazz and a passion that burned deep, which was felt by all of her players. She wanted us to succeed, learn from experiences, and most of all be a good person. She valued each player, entrusted us like friends, and treated us like family members," Kneip-Maurer said. "Coach Johnson was never Julie to me. Seventeen years after graduation, she will ALWAYS be Coach Johnson. She had a smile that could light up a room and a sparkle in her eye that you just knew, no words needed to be said."

Kneip-Maurer still uses the values today that Coach Johnson taught her as a Physical Education teacher at Kaukauna Public Schools. Originally from Appleton, Wis., Kneip-Maurer served as Kaukauna High School's girls basketball coach for four years, leading the Ghosts to one WIAA Sectional Final appearance. She and her husband Curtis '03, a fellow member of Ripon's Athletic Hall of Fame as a football player, currently reside in Neenah, Wis.


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