photo by: Wichita State Athletics

KU women's basketball assistant Terry Nooner has been named the new head coach of the Wichita State women's basketball program.

Former Kansas basketball walk-on Terry Nooner, a one-time fan favorite at Allen Fieldhouse from 1997-2000, is leaving his job as the Associate Head Coach with the KU women’s program to take the head coaching gig at Wichita State.

Kansas women’s coach Brandon Schneider announced the move in a news release Monday afternoon.

Nooner spent the last three seasons on Schneider’s staff after coming back to KU following a stint as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Texas. Nooner also served as an assistant at Maryland, Alabama and Southern Illinois, while working one year in player development with the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers, as well.

“I’m extremely grateful for the investment and contribution that Terry has made to the growth and progress of our program,” Schneider said in the release. “Nobody is more deserving of this opportunity, and we wish Terry, Tracy and their three children the best in this new endeavor.”

During his time as a coach at Kansas, Nooner worked with KU’s post players and helped facilitate the emergence of All-American center Taiyanna Jackson, who set the single-season blocked shots record in each of her first two seasons as a Jayhawk.

During the 2022-23, Jackson was one of the most improved players in the country and she became the first KU player since 1982 to average a double-double, finishing with averages of 15.2 points and 12.7 rebounds per game for the season.

The Jayhawks went 25-11 during during the recently completed season, winning the WNIT and nine of their final 10 games to cap off the season. KU reached the 25-win mark for just the sixth time in school history and the first time since 1996-97, while earning back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 2012 and 2013.

“This is one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever had to make, but I’m incredibly honored to announce that I will be joining Wichita State University as the head women’s basketball coach,” Nooner said in the release. “This is a dream come true, and I couldn’t be more excited to join Shocker Nation. While I may be leaving Lawrence for now, I will forever be a Jayhawk and I will always treasure the opportunity Brandon Schneider and the KU administration gave me years ago to come back home. Rock Chalk!”

Nooner becomes the third former assistant coach under Schneider to advance to a Division I head coaching position, joining Aqua Franklin (Lamar) and Jory Collins (North Dakota State).

Wichita State will officially introduce Nooner as its new women’s basketball coach at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at Charles Koch Arena. The event is free and open to the public with streaming available live and on demand via ESPN+.

“Terry Nooner is a highly respected leader with a proven track record of success,” WSU Athletic Director Kevin Saal said in a news release. “As a result of his impressive journey, Terry is incredibly well-connected within our region and nationally. We are excited to welcome Terry, his wife Tracy and the Nooner family into the Shocker family.”