Eau Claire Native Iverson Named Wisconsin-Eau Claire Women's Basketball Coach

Blugolds hire former UW-Stout coach to lead program after historic Final Four run

Mar. 29, 2026 at 2:54pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting in navy, green, and gold tones, capturing the dynamic action and intensity of a women's basketball game through Picasso-esque abstraction.A cubist interpretation of the energy and movement of a women's basketball game, reflecting the new coach's vision to build a program rooted in competitive toughness.Eau Claire Today

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has hired Hannah Iverson as its new head women's basketball coach, bringing back an Eau Claire native with a proven track record of success in the WIAC conference. Iverson arrives after seven seasons as the head coach at UW-Stout, where she led the Blue Devils to a WIAC regular season title, tournament championship, NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance, and the program's first-ever Final Four berth.

Why it matters

Iverson's hiring represents a homecoming for the Eau Claire North high school graduate, who now has the opportunity to lead her alma mater's program. Her strong ties to the community and successful tenure at a rival WIAC school make her an intriguing choice to take over a Blugolds team that has struggled in recent seasons.

The details

In seven seasons as head coach at UW-Stout, Iverson compiled a 125-74 record and became the program's second-winningest coach. She guided the Blue Devils to a WIAC regular season title in 2023, the WIAC Tournament championship in 2024, and a run to the NCAA Division III Final Four that same year - the first in program history. Iverson's accomplishments earned her WIAC Coach of the Year honors in 2023.

  • Iverson was named the new Blugolds head coach on March 27, 2026.
  • An introductory press conference is scheduled for April 7, 2026.

The players

Hannah Iverson

The new head women's basketball coach at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Iverson is an Eau Claire native and former standout player at UW-Green Bay, where she helped lead the Phoenix to four NCAA Tournament appearances.

Jason Verdugo

The Director of Athletics at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, who announced Iverson's hiring.

Kyle Seyer

The Assistant Athletic Director at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and chair of the search committee that hired Iverson.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Hannah is a proven winner who reflects the competitive standards we expect at UW–Eau Claire. She builds strong, authentic relationships with her players, develops student-athletes at a high level, and creates a team culture that competes relentlessly. Her track record in the WIAC shows she knows how to win, and we believe her leadership positions our program to be successful moving forward.”

— Jason Verdugo, Director of Athletics, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

“Hannah's connection to Eau Claire and her vision for this program made this a really special hire. She grew up around this program and now has the opportunity to lead it. That full-circle journey, combined with her success as a coach and ability to build relationships, makes her a natural fit to take this program to new heights.”

— Kyle Seyer, Assistant Athletic Director, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

“I am incredibly honored to be named the head women's basketball coach at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. I want to thank Jason, Chancellor Carney and the rest of the search committee for the trust and belief they've placed in me to lead this program. UW-Eau Claire is a special place with a strong tradition of academic and athletic excellence. I proudly stand with all of the coaches and players who have left their mark on this program and look forward to creating a culture rooted in accountability, toughness, trust and togetherness. My family and I are thrilled to join the Blugold family and we can't wait to get started.”

— Hannah Iverson

What’s next

An introductory press conference to introduce the new Blugold head coach is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7th. A location and start time will be announced in the coming days.

The takeaway

Iverson's hiring represents a homecoming for the Eau Claire native, who now has the opportunity to lead her alma mater's women's basketball program after a highly successful tenure at a rival WIAC school. Her strong ties to the community and proven track record of building winning cultures make her an intriguing choice to revitalize a Blugolds team that has struggled in recent seasons.