VERMILLION, S.D. – South Dakota Women's Basketball head coach Carrie Eighmey is pleased to announce the promotion of Paul Fessler to Associate Head Coach.
 
Fessler joined the South Dakota coaching staff as an assistant coach for the 2025-26 season and his impact was felt immediately. Fessler helped the Coyotes with one of the nation's best turnarounds last season, a 26-10 record, and a run to the WNIT Fab Four.
 
"Paul has been an incredible addition to our program, and elevating him to Associate Head Coach is a reflection of the value he brings to South Dakota Women's Basketball," Head Coach Carrie Eighmey said. "His experience, basketball knowledge, recruiting ability, and commitment to developing young women have made an immediate impact on our program."

In his first year, Fessler helped the Coyotes earn six conference honors, including a first teamer, a second teamer, and the conference Newcomer of the Year.
 
"Paul understands our vision, shares our values, and brings a tremendous work ethic every single day," Eighmey said. "We are fortunate to have him on our staff, and I'm excited about the continued impact he will have as we build this program for sustained success."
 
Fessler was one of the top coaches at the Division II level before making the move to the Division I ranks, spending 16 seasons as the head coach at Concordia-St. Paul, compiling a 326-148 record and 10 NCAA Championship bids. His squad reached the Division II Elite Eight in 2013-14, and he was inducted into the Minnesota Girls Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
 
He also was a top NJCAA coach before the jump to Division II, winning three National Championships at Annoka Ramsey Community College.

Fessler came to Vermillion after one season at Georgia Southern, where they went 16-18, but won seven of their last 11 games and two Sun Belt Conference Tournament games for the first time since 2005. Prio to his one season at Georgia Southern, Fessler spent a combined seven seasons between Bradley and Kansas City.
 
In his time at Bradley, his first Division I stop, he helped Bradley to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history in 2021. After five years with the Braves, Fessler spent two seasons in the Summit League at Kansas City, where he served as Associate Head Coach. In his time at Kansas City, the Roos made a run to the Summit League Semifinals in 2022-23.
 
Fessler's second season with the Coyotes, first as associate head coach, begins tonight (Monday) against York at 7:30 p.m. in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.
 

 
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