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Montana State University Billings Basketball Women's Head Coach Kevin WoodinKevin Woodin
Co-Camp Director

Kevin Woodin will begin his 20th season as the head women’s basketball coach at Montana State Billings in 2023-24.

In his 19 seasons, Woodin has amassed a cumulative record of 316-220 (.590) and is the winningest coach in MSUB history. The 'Jackets have also qualified for the post-season in 13 of the past 17 seasons and hold a 16-10 playoff record under Woodin’s guidance.

During the 2022-23 season, Woodin collected his 300th career win on Dec. 8, 2022 against Rocky Mountain College. It was a highlight victory in a season of success for the Yellowjackets, who finished 25-8 overall, and 14-4 in conference play. The team made a run to the GNAC Tournament Championship Game, and qualified for the NCAA DII National Tournament, where they made it to the second round. Six Yellowjackets earned All-GNAC honors, with two selected to the second team, and four earning honorable mention selections. Woodin's group had ten players earn Academic All-GNAC honors, and the team finished tied for tenth on the WBCA honor roll, earning a 3.74 combined GPA.

On Dec. 19, 2021, Woodin surpassed Mike Harkins with the 281st win of his career to become the winningest head coach in the history of Yellowjacket athletics.

Montana First: Kevin Woodin earned MSU Billings wins mark - and respect - with in-state treasures (Greg Rachac/406 Sports - Dec. 26, 2021).

It was a milestone win on the way to a 17-12 record during the 2021-22 season, and the Yellowjackets went 10-5 in conference play to take fourth place in the GNAC standings. MSUB earned a victory in the opening round of the conference tournament – the 12th playoff qualification of Woodin’s career. Taryn Shelley was named an honorable mention All-American, and was a first-team all-conference selection.

The team’s postseason awards in 2021-22 included GNAC Newcomer of the Year Cariann Kunkel, who was also a second-team all-conference selection, and Kortney Nelson who earned honorable mention all-GNAC. The Yellowjackets finished seventh among all NCAA D2 schools on the WBCA Academic Team Honor Roll List, carrying a 3.77 team GPA thanks to eight academic all-conference selections.

The 2020-21 basketball season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Yellowjackets finished with a 5-3 record in a 10-game shortened season that included two exhibition games.

Under Woodin's guidance, the Yellowjackets finished sixth in the conference during the 2019-20 regular season and earned a trip to the GNAC Championships in Seattle, Washington, where they fell in the quarterfinals to Western Washington University. Hannah Collins, Taryn Shelley, and Jeanann Lemelin were all named all-conference honorable mention.

In 2018-19 MSUB went 12-14 overall, and finished 8-12 in GNAC play to take seventh place in the conference.

In 2017-18, Woodin led the Yellowjackets to the best finish in school history, advancing to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight after winning the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and NCAA D2 West Region tournament titles. The Yellowjackets tied the school record for wins, going 25-12 overall, and finished fourth in the GNAC standings with a league record of 12-8.

Woodin’s Yellowjackets won seven straight games, including three in-a-row over nationally-ranked teams, en route to the second regional title in school history and first since the 1998-99 season. The ‘Jackets fell to No. 1 Ashland University 91-73 in the opening round of the Elite Eight.

Under Woodin’s guidance, senior Alisha Breen was a first-team All-American after breaking the MSUB and GNAC career records for scoring as she finished with 2,001 points. Breen broke the GNAC record for points in a season with 791, and her average of 21.4 points per game was No. 11 in the NCAA. Fellow senior Rylee Kane also completed a decorated career, starting all 125 games in her four seasons as point guard and finishing No. 2 in MSUB history and No. 4 in GNAC history with 563 assists.

Five players have been named all-American under Woodin's tenure and 40 players have been named all conference, including Michelle Lieber, Alira Carpenter, Bobbi Knudsen, Kayleen Goggins, and Alisha Breen. Woodin has coached three conference players of the year (Lieber, Knudsen, Breen), one west region player of the year (Breen), two conference defensive players of the year (Janiel Olsen, Robyn Milne), two conference newcomers of the year (Sarah McNamee, Chelsea Banis), and one freshman of the year (Alira Carpenter). 

All 10 of MSUB’s eligible players in 2017-18 earned academic all-GNAC accolades, and Breen was a CoSIDA academic all-district and academic All-American as well. Woodin has coached four academic all-Americans and 81 academic all-conference honorees.

In his coaching career, Woodin's teams have captured one NCAA Division II regional championship, two Heartland Conference regular season titles, one Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular season title, and two conference tournament championships.

Under Woodin’s guidance in 2016-17, Tiana Hanson earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors, after being picked as a second-team all-conference forward. MSUB was also the academic team champion within the GNAC with a team GPA of 3.53.

Woodin earned his second Great Northwest Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honor in 2015-16, and became the winningest coach in school history by leading the Yellowjackets back to the NCAA Division II West Region Championships with an overall record of 21-11 and a mark of 15-5 in league play.

During the 2004-05 season, Woodin was named the NCAA Division II Independent Coach of the Year. He was also the 2006-07 Heartland Coach of the Year. 

Woodin’s teams have excelled academically during his tenure. The WBCA honored MSUB’s 2013-14 squad as an academic top-25 team in the nation as they earned a 3.656 cumulative team GPA. That marked the seventh consecutive year MSUB has been ranked in the academic top-25 by the WBCA. With the 3.656, the team was ranked No. 6 in the nation for NCAA Div. II institutions. In 2014-15, the Yellowjackets registered a 3.4 cumulative GPA. The 'Jackets have also earned five GNAC academic titles for women's basketball over the past eight years.

In 2013-14, the MSU Billings women’s basketball team finished 25-8 overall, 15-3 in the GNAC, and a perfect 15-0 defense of their home court. With the help of senior All-American guard Bobbi Knutsen, MSUB won the regular season GNAC title, advancing to the West Region tournament ranked No. 2 overall. At the West Region tourney hosted by No. 1 seed Cal Poly Pomona, the Yellowjackets won their first two games, defeating Academy of Art and Simon Fraser University. With their two wins, Woodin’s team advanced on to the Sweet Sixteen round, where they played against host school Cal Poly Pomona in the West Region title game.

Woodin became the Yellowjacket women’s 11th head basketball coach when he took over on July 23, 2004. Since then, 97-percent of his seniors have gone on to graduation at MSUB. Nine times under Woodin, the Yellowjackets have been inside the WBCA top-25 for academic performance, earning GNAC women's basketball academic team champion five times.

Before the Montana High School Association moved the girls’ basketball season to the winter, Woodin was a part-time assistant coach at MSU Billings from 2000-03. Woodin has also taught many HHP courses at MSUB.

Montana State University Billings Basketball Assistant Coach Alisha BreenAlisha Breen
Co-Camp Director

Alisha Breen begins her sixth season on the coaching staff for MSUB’s women’s basketball team in 2023-24, and is in her third with the title of associate head coach.

Breen helped the Yellowjackets to appearances in the GNAC Championships in 2019-20 and 2021-22.

Completing one of the greatest careers in MSUB and Great Northwest Athletic Conference history as a senior in 2017-18, Breen piloted the Yellowjackets to their second-ever NCAA Division II West Region title and Elite Eight Appearance. The first-team All-American broke the MSUB and GNAC single-season and career records for points scored, with 791 on the year and 2,001 in her standout four-year campaign.

Breen was named the GNAC and NCAA D2 West Region Player of the Year as a senior, helping MSUB match the program record for wins in a season with a final record of 25-12. She was named the Most Valuable Player of the GNAC Championships, and was selected to the NCAA D2 West Region Championships all-tournament team after helping the ‘Jackets win both tournaments.

The Choteau, Montana, native broke more than 20 records during her senior season, and was also named a CoSIDA Academic All-American and the GNAC co-Female Scholar Athlete of the Year. She also led the NCAA in minutes played (1,337) and free throws with a GNAC-record 226.

At the end of her career, Breen was the only player in MSUB history to be in the top-10 in scoring (first), rebounds (third), assists (ninth), steals (10th), and blocks (fifth).

Breen played in 130 games in her four-year career, starting 105 and playing an MSUB and GNAC-record 4,174 minutes. She was an honorable mention all-GNAC pick as a sophomore in 2014-15 and a first-team all-league selection in 2015-16 before a season-ending knee injury prior to the 2016-17 season.

“Alisha does an outstanding job as my assistant coach at MSUB and I feel very fortunate to have her on my staff," said MSUB head women's basketball coach Kevin Woodin. "She is directly involved in every aspect of our program which includes practice/game planning, scouting, recruiting, camp organization, academics, individual skill development, strength & conditioning, etc. Alisha has transitioned well from player to coach and her ability to coach and mentor our student-athletes continues to impress me.” 

Prior to MSUB, Breen attended Choteau High School where she was a four-year starter on the basketball team. Breen also competed in volleyball and track and field for the Bulldogs, and was an all-conference and all-state selection in all three sports multiple times.

Janiel (Olson) BeggerMontana State University Billings Basketball Assistant Coach Alisha Breen
Co-Camp Director

Janiel (Olson) Begger begins her first season as an assistant women's basketball coach during the 2022-23 season.

Olson was the 2013-14 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year, a first-team all-GNAC selection, and is the Yellowjackets’ all-time rebounding leader having accumulated 1,001 in her career from 2011-16.

Begger currently resides in Billings, where she is a financial advisor for RBC Wealth Management. She spent the last six seasons as the varsity assistant coach at Billings West High School, where she attended from 2007-11.

Begger earned all-conference recognition three times during her career and academic all-conference three times during her career. Her banner season was the 2013-14 campaign, when she led the GNAC in rebounding at 9.7 boards per game while chipping in 7.8 points. Despite suffering a season-ending injury, her efforts helped the Yellowjackets reach the NCAA D2 Sweet 16.

It was the first of two NCAA regional tournament appearances throughout her career, as she returned as a senior in 2015-16 to help the ‘Jackets reach the GNAC title game and the opening round of the NCAA tournament. Begger started all 32 games as a senior, while averaging 7.7 points and ranked second in the GNAC with 8.5 rebounds per game.

Overall in her career in addition to her record rebound total, Begger scored 880 points for a total of 7.7 per game while playing in 114 games and starting 110 in her four full seasons on the court. Begger and MSUB associate head coach Alisha Breen, who is the school’s all-time scoring leader with 2,001 points, were teammates for three seasons.

A native of Billings, Begger completed her undergraduate degree in business management at MSUB in 2015 and her master’s degree in healthcare administration in 2017. She currently resides in Billings with her husband Travis and their daughter Rozalynn Lou Begger.