Marlene Stollings - Women's Basketball Coach

Marlene Stollings

Title:
Head Coach

BY THE NUMBERS
1	Brittany Brewer is the first Lady Raider in school history to be selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team twice
1	Chrislyn Carr was named the 2019 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Coach Marlene's first season at Tech
2	In year one, Coach Marlene had the second biggest turnaround at a Power Five school in the country
2	Coach Marlene guided two players to USA Basketball trial Invites in her first season at Tech
2	Coach Marlene is the only current Big 12 coach to have back-to-back Freshman of the Year winners in two different conferences
3	Coach Marlene has coached three conference Players of the Year
5	The Lady Raiders swept the 2019 San Diego Thanksgiving Tournament for the program's first tournament win in five years.
6	Stollings is one of six active head coaches from around the country to have six players drafted in the WNBA Draft in the last six seasons.
7	In only her second year, Stollings and the Lady Raiders racked up the most wins in a season in seven years at Texas Tech.
10	Coach Marlene was the fastest first-year coach to 10 wins since Hall of Fame Head Coach Marsha Sharp in 1982-83
12	In 2019, the Lady Raiders recorded the most wins by a first-year head coach in 12 years
14	Brittany Brewer was selected No. 17 overall in the 2020 WNBA Draft, becoming the program's first WNBA draft pick in 14 years and the highest in 17 years.
15	In 2020, the Lady Raiders completed the first sweep of Oklahoma and grabbed their first road win over the Sooners in 15 years.
18	In February of 2020, Stollings led Texas Tech to its first win over Iowa State in Ames in 18 years.
19	February 19, 2014 was declared Marlene Stollings Day in Pike County, Ohio
24	Coach Marlene led Minnesota to 24 wins during the 2017-18 season, the most in 13 years and fifth most in school history
25	Coach Marlene led Minnesota to four wins over Top 25 opponents in 2017-18, tying the school record
26	During the 2019-20 season, the Lady Raiders scored 100 points in three different games for the first time in 26 years.
84.9	Coach Marlene 2017-18 team posted a program record 84.9 points per game, ranking third in the nation
100	Coach Marlene has maintained a 100 percent graduation rate for all student-athletes who had completed their eligibility under her tutelage
104	Lady Raiders scored 104 points against OU, the most points ever scored in a game at the Big 12 Championship
2015	Coach Marlene was inducted into the Ohio Hall of Fame in 2015
3,514	Coach Marlene scored 3,514 points at Beaver-Eastern High School, the most by any boy or girl in Ohio high school basketball history, including LeBron James

In elite fashion, Head Coach Marlene Stollings led the Lady Raider Movement as they charged through the 2019-20 season and—in only her second year—completed the program’s best season in recent memory! The Lady Raiders grabbed national attention by being one of only nine teams to finish the non-conference season undefeated. With all eyes on them, the Lady Raiders culminated the season with the program’s first WNBA Draft pick in 14 years, first All-American in 14 years, most wins in seven years, two All-Big 12 selections, and the program’s highest win total in nearly a decade. The Big 12 Conference wins were of great magnitude marking the first win at ISU in 18 years, first sweep of Oklahoma in 15 years and first sweep of TCU in seven years. The team hit 20 three-pointers in their 109-point offensive outburst against Oklahoma State to set a new Big 12 record for threes in a single game.

After turning in the second-largest Power Five turnaround in her first season, Stollings got back to work in 2019-20. The second-year head coach would again increase the team’ win total in her second year, coaching the team to the program’s first 18-win season in seven years—a total that likely would have been higher were it not for the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the team achieved the program’s highest conference seed in seven years. Under Stollings’ watch, the Texas Tech offense stood out especially in her second season as the team recorded three 100-point performances for the first time in 26 years.

Stollings and the 2019-20 Lady Raiders got off to a hot start, going 11-0 to open the 2019-20 campaign and become one of only nine teams from around the country to reach the New Year undefeated. It marked the first time a Lady Raider team has finished their non-conference schedule undefeated in eight years.

Among the highlights of Tech’s nonconference slate was an 84-48 rout of Ole Miss in the Big 12/SEC Challenge that not only served as the program’s first-ever win in the event, but stands as the most lopsided win ever in a Big 12/SEC Challenge game.

Stollings coached senior Brittany Brewer to the program’s first triple double in 22 years in the team’s win over Louisiana Monroe, as Brewer turned in 12 points, 14 rebounds and an NCAA-record-tying 16 blocks. Under Stollings’ watch, Brewer would go on to earn First Team All-Big 12 honors and become the program’s first All-American in 14 years with recognition from the Associated Press, U.S. Basketball Writers Association and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. Brewer would go on to be the 17^th overall draft pick to the Atlanta Dream in the 2020 WNBA Draft.

The 2020 Big 12 Conference season brought many firsts for Stollings and the Lady Raiders, as the team recorded its best record in Big 12 play in nearly a decade and posted two conference sweeps (Oklahoma and TCU) for the first time in seven seasons. Stollings coached the Lady Raiders to their first win at Iowa State in 18 years and their first win at Oklahoma in 15 years.

Texas Tech played reigning national champs Baylor as close as anyone in Big 12 play in 2020. The Lady Raiders turned in an impressive performance in January, scoring the most points on No. 1 Baylor of anyone this season. The Lady Raiders hit 12 threes on the Bears--the most Baylor has allowed since their 2019 Final Four game against Oregon--and gave Baylor its closest game in Waco in three seasons. Tech was also the only Big 12 team to play Baylor within 15 points twice.

THE TURNAROUND BEGINS
Coach Marlene’s first season win total was the best record by a first-year head coach at Tech in 12 years. She also recorded the best start by a Lady Raider head coach in their first season in 41 years (1977-78) when the Lady Raiders opened the season at 8-2 in non-conference play. After 14 games, Coach Marlene earned her 10th win of the season becoming the fastest first-year head coach to 10 wins since the 1982-83 season. Coach Marlene earned her first Big 12 win of her career when she led Texas Tech to a 69-66 win over Kansas.

The Lady Raiders wrapped up the 2018-19 Big 12 season with a series sweep and two split series. It was the first time since the 2014-15 season that the Lady Raiders had two series splits and a series sweep against Big 12 opponents. With the 75-71 win at Allen Fieldhouse, the Lady Raiders swept the season series with Kansas for the first Big 12 sweep since the 2015-16 season.

Coach Marlene guided the Lady Raiders to an 88-82 win over Oklahoma to close the regular season, marking the first win over the Sooners in eight years. It also marked the first time the Lady Raiders have split the season series with Oklahoma since the 2010-11 season.

Freshman point guard Chrislyn Carr became the first Lady Raider since 2003 to be named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year. With that, Coach Marlene became the only current Big 12 coach to have back-to-back conference freshman of the year winners in two different conferences.

Coach Marlene has also guided the Lady Raiders to several record performances this season.

Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma, 104-84, in the opening round of the Philips 66 Big 12 Women’s Championship. Tech’s 104 points was the most ever scored in a game at the Big 12 Championship. The Lady Raiders shot a remarkable 59 percent from the field, the highest in a first round game and second-highest all-time in a Big 12 Women’s Championship contest.The Lady Raiders also broke into the top 10 for most points in a half in a Big 12 Women’s Championship game, tying for third all-time after scoring 51 points in the first half against OU.

Under her guidance, the Lady Raiders had two student-athletes invited to participate in USA Basketball team trials this summer. Brittany Brewer was invited to the Pan American Games team trials, becoming the first since 1995. Chrislyn Carr became the first freshman in school history to be invited to the U19 team trials.

Coach Marlene became the seventh head coach of Lady Raider Basketball on April 8, 2018.

Coach Marlene arrived in Lubbock after four seasons at the University of Minnesota. Coach Marlene guided the Gophers to a 67-47 (.588) record, three 20-win seasons and three postseason berths, including a second round NCAA appearance in 2017-18.

AT MINNESOTA
Coach Marlene’s 2017-18 squad reached the NCAA Tournament for the second time in four years and the 10th time in program history. The team broke several school records including points (2,803), points per game (84.9), field goals made (997), and fewest turnovers (412) in a season. Also set a new school record for most 3-pointers made (297) and field goal attempts (2,304). The Gophers tied the school record with four wins over top-25 teams.

Coach Marlene led the Golden Gophers to the second round of the NCAA Tournament during the 2016-17 season where they lost to No. 2-seed Oregon. Minnesota marked its 10th appearances in the tournament and finished the season with a 24-9 record, its most wins and best winning percentage (.727) in 13 years.

In 2014-15, Coach Marlene had one of the best seasons of any first-year head coach in Minnesota history. She led the Golden Gophers to a 23-10 record (11-7 Big Ten) and to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in six years. Big Ten Player of the Year Amanda Zahui B. was chosen second in the WNBA Draft, and fellow All-Big Ten selection Shae Kelley was picked 35th.

Minnesota went 20-12 (11-7 Big Ten) in 2015-16 and advanced to the second round of the WNIT. For the first time in seven years, the Golden Gophers turned in back-to-back winning conference records. Rachel Banham compiled a prolific senior season as the consensus Big Ten Player of the Year, a Wooden Award top-five finalist and the fourth pick in the WNBA Draft

WNBA DRAFT PICKS
While at Minnesota, Coach Marlene created a pipeline for her players to get to the WNBA that has continued during her time in Lubbock. In the 2015 draft, Minnesota had two players selected in the same season. Amanda Zahui B. was chosen second overall by the Tulsa Shock and Shae Kelly went 35th to the Minnesota Lynx, with whom she went on to win a WNBA Championship later that season.

The next year, Rachel Banham was drafted fourth overall by the Connecticut Sun. Both Zahui B. and Banham were the first Big Ten prospects picked in their respective drafts. Minnesota was one of only two schools in the country with a first round pick in both 2015 and 2016.

During the 2018 WNBA Draft, Carlie Wagner was selected by the Minnesota Lynx in the third round.

In 2020, Lady Raider Brittany Brewer became the first Texas Tech player to be drafted into the WNBA in 14 years when she was selected to the Atlanta Dream with the 17^th overall pick. Brewer was also the highest Texas Tech draft pick since Plenette Pierson 17 years ago.

Brewer marked Coach Marlene’s sixth draft pick in as many years. She is one of six active coaches to have six or more WNBA draft picks in the last six seasons (Geno Auriemma-UConn; Dawn Staley-South Carolina; Kim Mulkey-Baylor; Marlene Stollings-Texas Tech; Jeff Walz-Louisville; Joanne McCallie-Duke; Brenda Frese-Maryland).

ON THE RECRUITING TRAIL
During her career, Coach Marlene has seen tremendous success on the recruiting trail. Her first signee at Minnesota was highly-recruited transfer Shae Kelley, who went on to earn All-Big Ten recognition and be selected in the WNBA Draft. Coach Marlene signed ESPN’s No. 62 recruit in the nation, Destiny Pitts.

Shortly after being named head coach at VCU, Coach Marlene assembled a six-player recruiting class that ranked 38th nationally and third-highest among non-BCS programs.

Coach Marlene served as an assistant and associate head coach at SEC Power Ole Miss from 2007-11. She helped sign arguably the best recruiting class in nearly 30 years in 2009, including Mississippi Gatorade Player of the Year and Mississippi Miss Basketball Valencia McFarland. Ole Miss had two additional classes ranked in the top-50 in 2010 (42nd) and 2011 (39th), during her tenure with the Rebels.

ACADEMIC POWERHOUSE
Coach Marlene has maintained a 100 percent graduation rate for all student-athletes who have completed their eligibility under her tutelage. Her teams have regularly excelled in the classroom earning numerous awards. Most recently at Minnesota her student-athlete’s earned over 20 academic ALL-BIG Ten honoree selections, five Big Ten Distinguished Scholar awards and four CoSIDA academic All-American honorees.

PLAYING EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION
A native of Beaver, Ohio, Coach Marlene is considered one of the finest scorers to ever play in the basketball-rich state of Ohio (Beaver-Eastern HS). She was named Ohio’s Miss Basketball in 1993 and earned two-time Division III High School Player of the Year and four-time conference Player of the Year honors. She garnered Kodak All-America recognition her senior season and her name currently appears more than 30 times in the OHSAA (Ohio High School Athletic Association) record books.

Coach Marlene still holds the state high school basketball scoring record (boys and girls) with 3,514 points, ahead of LeBron James' 2,657. She was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame in May 2015.

Prior to starting her coaching career, Coach Marlene played one season professionally for Club ABB Baden in Switzerland. While playing professionally in Europe, Coach Marlene coached a men’s club team to an undefeated season. She was later invited to the WNBA’s Utah Starzz training camp in 1999.

Coach Marlene began her collegiate playing career at Ohio State University. She was a two-time scholar-athlete for the Buckeyes. Coach Marlene then moved to Ohio University where she earned first-team All-Mid-American Conference honors after finishing eighth in the nation and leading the league in scoring at 22.9 points per game her senior year.

Coach Marlene graduated in 1998 from Ohio University where she earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration in Marketing and a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Industry. She and her partner, Jeanne Berg, reside in Lubbock.