(VERMILLION, SD) –- University of South Dakota women’s basketball coach Ryun Williams has announced that Mandy Koupal has been named a full-time assistant coach on the Coyote staff.

Koupal, a former standout on the USD women’s basketball team and a 2004 USD graduate, has served as a graduate assistant for the past two seasons and is replacing Allison Kruger, who resigned to become the head women’s basketball coach at Southwest Minnesota State.

“We are very excited to have Mandy join our staff as a full-time assistant,” Williams said. “She has been very valuable to our program over the last two years as a GA and is without a doubt ready to make this jump. Mandy is a great teacher of the game and just an incredible person. She will definitely help Coyote basketball grow.”

Koupal has been part of the coaching staff which has helped the Coyotes to a 33-27 mark over the past two seasons as the USD program transitions to Division I status.

Prior to returning to USD, Koupal was the assistant coach for Watertown Arrows girls basketball team from 2004-2008. She helped lead the team to the State AA Championship in 2007 and a third place finish in state in 2008. While at Watertown High School, Koupal also taught fourth grade.

Prior to beginning her coaching career at Watertown High School, Koupal enjoyed a decorated playing career at The University of South Dakota as she ranks as one of the greatest players in school history. She finished as USD’s career leader in scoring with 2,142 points, which ranks sixth in NCAA Division II. She also owns the top three single-season scoring marks (806, 740, 596) and she is the only player in North Central Conference history to win three straight NCC MVP honors. A three-time All-American, Koupal was a two-time national player of the year and won three NCC MVP honors.

Koupal graduated from USD in 2004 with bachelor’s degree in elementary education and completed her master’s degree in educational administration from USD in May 2009.