Texas State hired Cleveland State's Chris Kielsmeier as its new women's basketball coach Tuesday.
Texas State went 11-19 this past season and was looking for a new leader after Zenarae Antoine stepped down following 15 seasons at the helm. The Bobcats will be playing in the new-look Pac-12 beginning next season.
Kielsmeier just completed his eighth campaign at Cleveland State, compiling at least 20 wins in six seasons and at least 26 each of the last four. The Vikings' season ended this week when they fell in the Great 8 of the Women's National Invitational Tournament.
Kielsmeier led the Vikings to an NCAA tournament appearance in 2023 as well as the program's first Horizon League regular-season title the following year. Cleveland State also earned the Women's Basketball Invitational title in 2021 under his guidance.
His previous stops include coaching at Division II Wayne State College (2008-18) and Division III Howard Payne University (2000-08), where in 2008 he earned an NCAA championship following an undefeated season and was named WBCA Division III National Coach of the Year. He has led his teams to 15 postseason appearances and coached in the NCAA tournament at the Division I, II and III levels.
With Kielsmeier leading the charge, Texas State is looking for its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2003 and second overall.
"Chris Kielsmeier is a proven winner and one of the most respected coaches in women's basketball," athletic director Don Coryell said in a statement. "His track record of success, combined with his ability to recruit at a high level, makes him the ideal leader for our program. Chris has a clear vision and a plan to elevate Texas State women's basketball, and he possesses an elite eye for identifying and developing talent that fits his system. We are excited about the future under his leadership."