RIPON, Wisconsin – Ripon women's basketball head coach Lauren Busalacchi has been named the Division III Private School Coach of the Year as announced by the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association.
 
The only coach in league history to be named coach or coaching staff of the year for six consecutive seasons, Busalacchi led Ripon to its best season in school history in 2024-25. The Red Hawks set a new Midwest Conference record with their seventh consecutive regular season title, and also hosted the MWC Tournament for the seventh season in a row. Ripon set a new school record for consecutive home wins (15), tied a school record for consecutive wins (14) and set a new school record for single-season wins (23).
 
Busalacchi is the eighth-winningest coach in Midwest Conference women's basketball history and has amassed an overall record of 182-106 in her 12 seasons. The 2024-25 team set school records in points (1,933), wins (23), made free throws (414), rebounds (1,181) and steals (347) while the Red Hawks also entered the single-season school record books in made field goals, field goal percentage, made three-pointers, free throw percentage and blocks. Seven of the nine longest winning streaks in school history have come under Lauren's direction.
 
Ella Ten Pas was named Midwest Conference Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, while Laney Havlovitz was also a first team choice and Halle Van Horn was named to the second team. Ripon advanced to its second consecutive NCAA Tournament, second in the last three seasons and third in the last six full seasons. The Red Hawks bowed out to UW-Stout, a 2025 Final Four participant, in the first round on March 7.
 
The full release from the WBCA can be found here.
 
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