Yellowjacket Assistant Moving On to Wichita State (7/10/06)

BILLINGS, MT – Montana State-Billings women’s basketball assistant coach Kami Malnaa has been named the director of women’s basketball operations at Wichita State University in Wichita, KS.  Shockers head coach Jane Albright made the announcement on Monday.  Malnaa will begin her duties immediately.

“I’m very happy for Kami,” said Yellowjacket head coach Kevin Woodin.  “I’m happy she has this opportunity and wish her the best.  She played a critical part in our success in the last two seasons, and we will miss her a lot.”

Malnaa’s responsibilities will include coordinating facility use and practice needs both home and away, serving as practice liaison for teams visiting Charles Koch Arena, as well as handling all the Shockers’ team travel for road games.  Malnaa will also be responsible for coordinating the annual end of season banquet and various luncheons and other functions held throughout the year.  Wichita State, a Division I program that competes in the Missouri Valley Conference, was 15-13 last year.

“We are fortunate to add Kami to our coaching staff,” Albright said in a press release issued by the school.  “She is an exceptional person who will contribute greatly to what we are building here.  Kami will contribute to our program, university, and community in numerous ways.”

Malnaa spent the last two seasons as an assistant under Woodin, helping lead the Yellowjackets to a two-year record of 39-16 during that span. She helped lead the Jackets to the NCAA Division II Tournament in 2005, and in 2006 the Yellowjackets earned a share of the Heartland Conference regular season title.  MSU Billings won a school record 14-straight games in 2005-06. During her time at MSU Billings Malnaa also worked as a human performance specialist at the Mountain Land Physical Therapy and Human Performance Center in Billings.

Prior to her time at MSU Billings Malnaa served as head varsity coach at Yellowstone County Christian Home School from 2002-04.  She also assisted Woodin at Billings West High School, helping lead the team to the Montana State Class AA championship.

A 2002 graduate of MSU Billings with a B.S., in health promotion, Malnaa earned her M.S., in athletic training from the school in 2004.  Malnaa was a four-year letter winner for the Yellowjackets from 1998-2002, leading the team to the NCAA Division II Tournament three times, advancing to the final eight in 1999.  

A native of Glasgow, Mont., Malnaa was a first team all-conference performer for the Yellowjackets.  She was a two-time academic all-conference selection and served as team captain for the from 2000-02.  Malnaa still ranks in the top 20 on MSUB’s career scoring list and is third on the Yellowjacket career list for 3-pointers made.

Woodin said he hopes to name Malnaa’s replacement by the end of August.