Special to the Advance
Arkansas-Monticello's Head Women's Basketball Coach David Midlick announced the hiring of Marissa Webb as the newest coach for the Blossoms basketball team. Webb comes aboard as the newest Assistant Coach for Monticello's program after spending this past season as the Assistant Women's Basketball Coach at the Three Rivers College (NJCAA D1) in Missouri.
"I am so excited that Coach Webb will be joining us", said Midlick. "I was impressed with her even before I began looking for a coach to join me. She is a proven recruiter and floor coach. Just as important, she is a person of high integrity. She has a passion and enthusiasm for the game of basketball, and is a rising star in our profession. I'm looking forward to having the UAM community meet her."
While at TRC, Webb coached a pair of record breaking Lady Raiders teams. The Lady Raider had a combined 52-2 record over two seasons. During the '21-'22 season, the team finished the regular season 27-0, and spent 6 consecutive weeks being ranked #1 in the nation (NJCAA D1 Poll). And finished in the NJCAA Sweet 16 at the National Tournament. Webb had 3 players sign to NCAA D-I schools: Stetson University, Utah State, and Old Dominion University. The Lady Raiders had a combined 22 NJCAA individual & team awards including: a 1st team All-American. The Lady Raiders were also the 1st back to back national tournament team, Region 16 Champs, and Central District Champs in program history.
During the 2021 season, the team finished 24-1, while reaching the NJCAA DI National Tournament Final Four, and was the school's first undefeated regular season team in its history. The Lady Raiders finished with a combined 19 individual and team awards. Webb coached one '20-'21 Ring of Honor Recipient at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, one 1st team All-American, one 3rd team All-American (Myia Yelder), two National All-Tournament team picks, three Academic All-Americans, 5 All-Region players, 5 All-Conference players. The Lady Raiders also were Region 16 Champions, and District K champions.
The Lady Raiders finished top 10 in 7 different categories: points per game (83.2), points allowed per game (53.9), steals per game (16.4), 3pt made per game (9.8), opponents' field goal percentage (32.7), opponents' 3pt percentage (23), Total rebounds per game (46.9).
Prior to TRC, Webb coached at Doane University (NAIA D1) in Crete, NE. While at Doane, Webb served many roles including assisting with the varsity team, and being the head coach of the JV team. Webb served as the operations point of contact for both programs, was responsible for scheduling, recruiting, travel, and was the academic liaison.
Before Doane, Webb served as an assistant coach at Southeastern Illinois College (NJCAA DI) in Illinois. During her time at SIC, she was part of rebuilding the program. After the team winning only 14 games the year before, Webb helped coach the team to a 23 win season. That season she coached one 3rd team All-American, the Region 24 Player of the Year, Freshman POY, and two All-Region players in her time with the Lady Falcons.
Webb began her collegiate coaching at Western Illinois University (WIU) in Macomb, IL. Webb served as the team's Graduate Assistant Coach. While at WIU, the Leathernecks finished with a 49-15 combined two season record. The team qualified for two post-season appearances: NCAA Tournament 2017 and the WNIT in 2018. At Western, Webb worked with the day-to-day operations of the program. In her first season with the Leathernecks, the team finished as the Summit League Regular Season Champions, Summit League Conference Champions (first in 11 years), and made the team's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1995. During her second season, the team knocked off top-ranked Stanford University, and made the WNIT.
She spent the 2018 and 2019 summers with the Stanford University's Women's Basketball Program under Coach Tara VanDerveer. With Stanford, Webb served as an Elite Camp Leader for both summers for multiple camps. Webb also spent the 2017 summer interning with the Missouri State University Men's Basketball program. Webb worked team camps and observed team / individual practices.
Webb received her Master's of Science in Kinesiology: Sports Management (2018) from Western Illinois University, her Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science (2016) from William Woods University, and her Associates degree in Pre-Sports Medicine (2014) from Three Rivers College.
"I'm so happy to be at UAM!", said Williams. "I'm super excited to work with Coach Midlick. He's a legend in the women's basketball world. I'm probably most excited about the team though! All the returning and incoming athletes have been great so far, and so welcoming. These ladies are ready to work, and that's what I love to see. Coach Midlick's vision and plan of growing in the classroom, on the court, and in the community is literally second to none! I'm just beyond grateful to get the chance to be a part of this journey with this UAM family!"
Follow Blossoms Basketball This Fall!
The UAM women's basketball program will be back in action for the 2022 season. They open up the year in Fayette, Iowa as they travel to Upper Iowa University for a tournament opener against Lincoln Memorial University. The game is set to begin at 5:30 p.m.
