Augustana University Hire Jillian Flores Bennett as Next Head Women’s Basketball Coach
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana University has announced today that they have hired Jillian Flores Bennett as their next Head Women's Basketball Coach.
Flores Bennett leaves Iowa Western after her second stint in Council Bluffs and only one season at the helm of the Reiver Women's Basketball program.
"We wish Coach Flores Bennett the best in her journey and want to thank her for continuing the winning tradition in her time as the Reiver Women's Basketball Head Coach," said Iowa Western President Dr. Dan Kinney. "She is leaving the position in a good place and we are excited for her moving forward. We will immediately begin the search to replace her and are very excited for the opportunity to get the next Reiver Women's Basketball coach on staff."
"I'd like to thank Dr. Kinney and Athletic Director Shane Larson for the opportunity they gave me a year ago to return to Iowa Western as the head coach," said Flores Bennett. "It has been a dream come true to lead my alma mater. I'd like to thank all the players who believed in my vision and allowed me to coach them and be part of their unique journeys. Every player that has come through our program has left their mark, and I hope that I have done the same."
Flores Bennett added, "Iowa Western is a special place because of the great players and people surrounding it. I want to extend a big thank-you to the host families, fans, faculty, and staff in our Council Bluffs community that have been unwavering supporters of our program and our players, you are the difference makers. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the opportunity and the growth I was able to experience at Iowa Western as a player, assistant coach, and head coach. Iowa Western will always be home to me, and I look forward to supporting the Reivers as a fan for many years to come."
Flores Bennett departs Iowa Western after guiding the Reivers to a 26-5 record and a runner-up finish in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) Region 11 championship game this past season. Iowa Western ended the 2022-23 campaign with a conference record of 13-3 and was a perfect 16-0 at home.
"I want to thank Jillian for her time and commitment to Iowa Western Women's Basketball, as a player, assistant coach, and head coach. We would have liked to see her time in her current role last slightly longer, but we are excited for her and this opportunity to move to an NCAA head coaching position, said Iowa Western Athletic Director Shane Larson. "This marks the fourth coach recruited from Iowa Western to an NCAA Division 1 or 2 head coaching position in the last year. This shows what great opportunities we create here for not only our student-athletes but also our coaching staff to advance in their careers. We have already begun a national search to find her replacement and expect to find a coach that will maintain the program's tradition of excellence."
Flores Bennett her head coaching career at NAIA Our Lady of the Lake University at the beginning of the 2021-22 season where she led the Saints to the Red River Athletic Conference title and RRAC tournament championship while earning the program's 10th trip to the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship.
Prior to OLLU, "Coach Flo" spent three seasons as an assistant coach at IWCC under former Iowa Western Head Coach Lindsey Vande Hoef.
A native of Council Bluffs and a Lewis Central High School graduate, Flores Bennett began her collegiate coaching journey at Peru State College from 2014 to 2016 as a graduate assistant. Following Peru State, she was part of the inaugural season of the women's basketball team at Bellevue University (NAIA DII). While at Bellevue she primarily worked on skill development with forwards and centers and helped see the Bruins to a 3rd place finish in the North Start Athletic Association in the 2017-2018 season.