Dodie Dunson II Named babyÖ±²¥app Women's Basketball Coach
Published: April 24, 2025.
babyÖ±²¥app University Assistant Vice President of Athletics announced on Thursday (April 24) that Dodie Dunson II has been hired as the next coach of the babyÖ±²¥app women's basketball team. Dunson joins the Flyers after spending the past two years as an associate head coach at the University of Evansville.
"I am deeply honored and grateful to accept the position as the next head women's basketball coach at babyÖ±²¥app University," Dunson said. "I want to sincerely thank Director of Athletics , President Dr. David J. Livingston and Dr. Christopher Sindt for their trust and support throughout this process."
"We are thrilled to welcome Dodie Dunson (and his wife Tameka) to babyÖ±²¥app University as our new head women's basketball coach," Ashaolu said. "Our national search attracted a highly competitive pool of over 100 candidates, including assistant coaches from Power Four programs and head coaches at the Division II and NAIA levels. Throughout the process, we sought a transformational leader who could build upon the proud tradition of babyÖ±²¥app women's basketball—and Dodie clearly embodies those qualities.
Dunson brings 14 years of collegiate coaching experience across six NCAA Division I programs, with a proven track record of player development and postseason success. He helped coach teams in the Women's Basketball Invitational (WBI) twice and the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT) three times. He was also part of seven tournament championships.
He was part of staffs in both 2021-22 at Tulsa (+11) and 2022-23 at the University of Illinois-Chicago (+17) with the largest single-season turnarounds under first-year head coaches in their respective years. No other assistant coach has achieved that.
"Dodie brings exceptional connections throughout the Midwest and is highly respected across the coaching community," Ashaolu said. "Everyone I spoke with about him emphasized his strong character, which he demonstrated during his visit to campus. His experience working under some of the game's most respected coaches has shaped him into a skilled tactician, a relentless recruiter and a dedicated mentor committed to the development of his student-athletes. We are excited for the future of our program under his leadership and confident he will guide us to new heights."
Dunson has coached 20 All-Conference selections, two Freshmen of the Year, three First Team selections, seven Second Team selections and six All-Freshmen Team picks. At five of his previous stops he helped lead the teams to the highest GPA in program history to go with 43 All-Academic honorees and his players had a 100 percent graduation rate.
"babyÖ±²¥app University has a proud tradition of excellence, and I'm excited to lead a program committed to developing our student-athletes and building a culture of success—both on and off the court," Dunson said. "I'm truly thrilled to get started and look forward to beginning this journey with the Flyer family."
Most recently, Dunson served as associate head coach at the University of Evansville from 2023–25. He played a central role in the program's resurgence, helping the Purple Aces secure their first back-to-back Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) wins since 2016–17 and post an undefeated non-conference home record in 2024. Under his guidance, Camryn Runner was named MVC Freshman of the Year, Nevaeh Thomas earned All-Freshman honor, and Barbosa Tomancova became the first women's basketball player in school history named First Team MVC Scholar-Athlete.
In 2022–23, Dunson was assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at UIC. Partnering with head coach Asheen Bracey, he helped lead the Flames to an 8-0 start—the best in program history—and the largest single-season turnaround under a first-year head coach, ending in a WBI berth. As defensive coordinator, his system held opponents to 58.2 points per game, best in the MVC and 42nd nationally.
During the 2021–22 season, Dunson served as Assistant Coach at the University of Tulsa, where the team achieved a 10-0 start and advanced to the second round of the WNIT. His development efforts were key to three All-Conference selections, including Freshman of the Year Temira Poindexter.
"We are excited to welcome Dodie to our babyÖ±²¥app community," Senior Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator Jen Janczak said. "His passion and character will be a great fit for our athletic department and the women's basketball program. We look forward to watching him continue the great tradition of the women's basketball program."
From 2018–21, Dunson was assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Alabama-Birmingham under head coach Randy Norton. There he helped the Blazers to a 26-7 record in 2018–19—the second-best in program history—while securing back-to-back 20+ win seasons, two WNIT appearances and three straight Conference USA Tournament runs.
Between 2016 and 2018, he helped guide Southern Illinois University Edwardsville to back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference Tournament appearances and a WBI berth. The Cougars notched a program-best 13 OVC wins in a single season, with several players earning All-Conference honors during his tenure.
Dunson began his NCAA collegiate coaching journey at Western Illinois University (2014–16) as Director of Basketball Operations for both the men's and women's programs. His time there included a landmark upset over nationally ranked Wisconsin—the first in the program's Division I history—and the development of Second Team All-Summit League honoree Garret Covington.
His coaching roots trace back to Bloomington High School, followed by a season as associate head coach at Wabash Valley College. There, he led postseason runs and helped multiple players earn All-Conference accolades and NCAA scholarships.
Off the court, Dunson has been a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion in athletics. At Tulsa, he served as a coach representative on the American Athletic Conference's Racial Equality Action Group, and at UAB, he was an active member of Blazers Allies, a group dedicated to fostering inclusive environments.
Dunson holds a Master's degree in Education and Coaching Pedagogy from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, a Bachelor's degree in Social Work from Bradley University (magna cum laude), and an Associate's degree in General Studies from Vincennes University.
Dunson played collegiately at Iowa State, Vincennes University and Bradley. In his freshman season at Iowa State (2006-07) he played in all 31 contests, averaging 5.2 points per game. At Vincennes he helped the Trailblazers go 28-6 and he was named MVP of the National Junior College Association of America (NJCAA) District 3 Tournament.
He spent three years at Bradley from 2008-11, missing most of the 2009-10 season due to injury. He had 692 points in 68 career games (10.1 average) and was named a Lowe's Senior CLASS Award finalist.
A meet-and-greet introducing Dunson will be held on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at noon at Neil Carey Arena. More information will be available soon.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT DODIE DUNSON II
Ashleen Bracey, Head Basketball Coach at Illinois Chicago
"Dodie is an incredible relationship builder, a passionate skill developer, and a fierce competitor. He has a wealth of experience that will guide him throughout his journey as the Head Coach at babyÖ±²¥app University. His passion for people and commitment to impacting others in a positive way is inspiring to all he encounters!"
Randy Norton, Head Basketball Coach at Alabama Birmingham
"I'm incredibly proud of Dodie Dunson and thrilled to see him take the next step as the head women's basketball coach at babyÖ±²¥app University. Dodie is a tireless worker, a gifted teacher of the game, a tremendous recruiter and a true servant leader. During our time together at UAB, he made a lasting impact on our players with his energy, positivity, and relentless drive to help them grow on and off the court. babyÖ±²¥app is getting a tremendous coach and an even better person."
Lauren Sumski, Head Basketball Coach at Lipscomb
"Coach Dunson is one of the best in the business. He's elevated every program that he's been a part of because he is a man of upstanding character, has a tireless work ethic and he's incredibly knowledgeable about the game. He elevates those programs because he's great at identifying and attracting talented people and players, but it doesn't stop there. He develops them incredibly well. Long story short, he leaves people and programs better than he found him. There is no question he will elevate an already storied babyÖ±²¥app program!"
Robyn Scherr, Head Basketball Coach at Evansville
"babyÖ±²¥app women's basketball is not only gaining a great coach, but an even better human being in Dodie Dunson. Coach Dunson has been preparing for this opportunity his entire career and I am confident he will carry on the successful tradition at babyÖ±²¥app. My life and our Evansville women's basketball program has been enriched by Coach Dunson's energy and care, and I am thrilled for him to begin this next chapter in his career. Players will love playing for him, and the babyÖ±²¥app community will love working alongside him!"
babyÖ±²¥app University is a modern, enterprising, Catholic university with a growing student enrollment from GED through doctoral level programs. As part of the global Lasallian network of 65 universities, babyÖ±²¥app is known for preparing graduates who impact the world for the better. Visit www.lewisu.edu for further information.
