By: Nathan Bloechl — sports@kilj.com
Mount Pleasant — Just days after stepping down from William Penn University, Mount Pleasant native Steve Williamson is coming home.
Sunday the Iowa Wesleyan athletic department officially named Williamson the next head coach of their women’s basketball program.
Williamson accumulated 246 wins, four conference championships, five conference tournament championships, and eight national tournament appearances in his first stint with Iowa Wesleyan.
“This is an exciting day for Iowa Wesleyan University and the women’s basketball program,” said Derek Zander, vice president for athletics and advancement. “Coach Williamson is one of the best small college coaches in the country and has a proven track record of success both in the classroom and on the court. Williamson’s return to Iowa Wesleyan, coupled with our return to the NAIA, will bring the energy and excitement back to our historic women’s basketball program.”
In his time in Oskaloosa, a program he led for the past four years, Williamson accrued an 88-28 record.
He was 66-20 in conference play.
A two-time Heart of America Conference Coach of the Year, Williamson headed 13 all-Heart performers, one Heart Player of the Year, and three NAIA All-Americans.
Academically, he had seven Heart Scholar-Athletes and five NAIA Scholar-Athlete under his tutelage.
He also led the Statesmen to their first regular season title since 1988 and orchestrated their first Heart of America Conference Tournament title in program history.
William Penn finished 10-9 this year and 10-7 in conference play.
It is unclear when Williamson’s hire will be made effective.