COLUMBUS, Ohio – Lynsey Warren has been promoted to the head coaching position of Ohio Dominican's women's basketball team, Athletic Director Jeff Blair announced today.

Warren, who has served as the interim head coach since June 4, becomes the sixth head coach in Ohio Dominican's history, which dates back to the 1975-76 season.

"I'm extremely excited for this opportunity to lead the women's basketball program," Warren said. "I want to thank Jeff, the administration and the entire athletic department staff for their support. They had the faith to give me the position in the interim role and now have put it in my hands for the future, and I'm grateful for the chance. I also want to thank my family and all of my former coaches that I played for and worked for who helped get me to the point that I am today."

"We are thrilled to have Lynsey as the next head coach and are confident she is the right person to take the program to the next level," Blair said. "Her experience in working with the team this past year, as well as all of her experiences in the GLIAC as a player and coach, made her a tremendous choice for this position. Lynsey's passion and enthusiasm for the university and the team also helped set her apart, as did the respect that she has gained from both her peers and her players."

Warren, a Columbus native who attended nearby Bishop Watterson High School before playing volleyball and basketball collegiately at Ashland University, joined Ohio Dominican's coaching staff prior to the 2011-12 season. As the lead assistant, she was responsible for every aspect of the program, including recruiting, game preparation, individual skill development and strength and conditioning.

During the season, Warren served as the acting head coach for two weeks, highlighted by leading the Panthers to a GLIAC victory over Northwood. She has also overseen all facets of the program since Nathan Bellman's resignation to pursue other opportunities following the season.

"I can't wait to develop this program," Warren said. "It has a ton of potential to contend both in the GLIAC and at the national level in Division II. It will be a challenge but I'm looking forward to it. We have a great group of student-athletes here now and we're looking to keep building a winning culture here. We know that to be the best you have to beat the best, and if we can win in the GLIAC we have the potential to advance far in the tournament."

Prior to arriving at Ohio Dominican, Warren was the assistant coach at Division III Kenyon College, helping the Ladies to a 15-12 mark and 8-6 record in the NCAC. She also spent a year as the graduate assistant at her alma mater Ashland.

A three-year letterwinner with the Eagles, Warren tallied 803 points, 467 rebounds, and a .522 field goal percentage while helping the team to an overall 57-33 record (.633). As a freshman, she averaged 7.8 points per game off of the bench for an Eagles' squad that won the GLIAC South Division championship and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament. Warren's most successful individual season came as a senior in 2008-09 when she led the team in points per game (14.0), field goal percentage (.530) and blocks (30) en route to an All-GLIAC South Division second-team selection.

Warren's athletic prowess also included four years as a starting setter on the Eagles' volleyball team, where she garnered All-America status her junior and senior seasons and keyed Ashland's run to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division II Tournament in 2006.

Warren received her bachelor's in Business Administration in 2008 and a Master of Education in Sports Sciences in 2010 from Ashland.

Ohio Dominican's women's basketball team made six NAIA Tournament appearances before the university's transition to NCAA Division II. The Panthers have claimed three conference tournament championships in their history, have had four All-Americans and 68 all-conference selections.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT LYNSEY WARREN

Sue Ramsey, Head Coach, Ashland University: "ODU has made an excellent decision in their hiring of Lynsey Warren as women's basketball coach. Lynsey has a tremendous work ethic. This, along with her knowledge of not only the game but also what it takes to be successful in the GLIAC, makes her the perfect choice to lead this program. In addition, Lynsey genuinely cares about the student-athlete outside of the playing arena and wants to see them grow in all areas of their life. This was a great hire for ODU." 

Tom Woodford, Head Coach, Bishop Watterson High School: "I'm extremely excited for Lynsey's opportunity to be the head coach at Ohio Dominican. I have been a head coach for 18 years, and Lynsey has been one of the best leaders I have seen in my time. She uses her skills to the best of her abilities in everything that she has done. She will be an amazing asset not just to the basketball program but to the university as a whole. Lynsey is the type of person every school needs."