Marquette University Athletics
Lillis Named Assistant Women's Basketball Coach
5/2/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
May 2, 2006
MILWAUKEE -- Head coach Terri Mitchell announced today the hiring of Jennie Lillis as assistant coach. Lillis spent the previous two seasons as a member of the coaching staff at Kansas State.
"I am very excited to have Jennie join our staff here at Marquette." said Mitchell. "She has great enthusiasm and passion for the game and I think that will translate well to her coaching."
Lillis first joined the K-State staff during the 2004-05 season, serving as assistant director of basketball operations in charge of administrative and organizational aspects of the program. She moved up to a full-time bench coaching position during the 2005-06 campaign.
"There are several reasons why I'm so excited to begin working at Marquette." said Lillis. "First, I'm excited to work with Terri Mitchell. She is such a passionate person and has a tremendous knowledge of game. She is a great leader and an even greater person."
"Secondly, I'm thrilled to work with the team and with the post players." Lillis added. "And lastly, I'm excited to coach in the BIG EAST. It is a highly competitive and diverse league with some great teams."
Prior to her joining the Kansas State staff, Lillis enjoyed a fine playing career at Iowa. One of the best all-around players in Hawkeyes basketball history, she was a two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection as a junior and senior, while being named a Second Team All-Conference player as a sophomore.
One of only two Iowa players to collect better than 1,700 points and 800 rebounds in a career, Lillis is the only player in Hawkeye history to rank in the top 10 all-time in the Iowa record book in scoring (4th/1,762 points), rebounding (5th/827), assists (8th/297), blocks (3rd/114), and steals (6th/196). She helped the Hawkeyes to four postseason appearances, including three NCAA Tournament bids. Lillis was a teammate of current MU assistant Cara Consuegra.
Off the court, Lillis earned the 2004 Big Ten Conference's Medal of Honor. First awarded in 1914, the Big Ten's oldest award is given annually to a student in the graduating class of each university that demonstrated proficiency in scholarship and athletics. She was also a three-time Academic All-Big Ten pick, and a WBCA Scholarship Award recipient, CoSIDA Academic All-District, and Collegiate Basketball Award for Excellence semifinalist as a senior in 2004.
"She was an incredible player at Iowa and can use that knowledge and experience to help us continue our winning tradtions and our success in the BIG EAST Conference." Mitchell said.
A native of Urbandale, Iowa, Lillis earned her bachelor's degree in communication studies in 2004. She completed coursework towards her master's degree in Kansas State's College Student Personnel program, with an emphasis in athletic administration.
