BROWNWOOD, Texas – Head women’s basketball coach Chris Kielsmeier announced today that he will be leaving Howard Payne University to take the head women’s basketball coaching position at NCAA Division II Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska.

After leading the Lady Jackets to their first ever NCAA III National Championship, a perfect season at 33-0, and five consecutive seasons with 20 or more wins Chris Kielsmeier looks to face a new challenge at Wayne State. Kielsmeier will take over a Wayne State program that went 22-10 last season and made it to the NCAA Division II Regional Semi-Finals.

“It was a decision to get closer to home and to take another step my in professional career,” Kielsmeier said. “It wasn’t an easy decision in any way. It still isn’t and it won’t be for some time. You go to college and after that, to me, you’re just always trying to push yourself in your professional career. For nine years I did that here. I feel it’s the next step in my career, but the biggest thing is its closer to home. It’s four hours from my house, where my family lives.”

Kielsmeier finished his 8th year as head coach at Howard Payne as the winningest women's basketball coach in HPU history, with a record of 179-44.

“We appreciate so much all that Coach Kielsmeier has done for Women’s Basketball, Howard Payne University, and the City of Brownwood.” said Howard Payne Director of Athletics, Mike Jones. “He is a great coach and friend and we will all miss him.  We wish him the best as him begins a new chapter in his life and career.”

This season, 2007-08, Kielsmeier has led the Lady Jackets to the 2008 NCAA III National title at 33-0 (best in school history). Kielsmeier received WBCA South Region and National Coach of the Year honors. Howard Payne again for the second year in a row led the nation in scoring margin (27.8 points per game). He coached All-American Meia Daniels to National Player of the Year honors as well.

“Howard Payne University has allowed me to grow not only as a coach, but also as a person,” Kielsmeier said. “How many jobs do people have that they can truly say they’ve grown as a person? I can say I’ve grown so much as a coach and a person and that’s a special feeling to know this place has helped me grow so much. I’m thankful for the opportunity that Mr. (Mike) Jones, our athletic director, and the university gave me.”

During Coach Kielsmeier's time at HPU, he had the seven most successful seasons in HPU women's basketball history, as well as producing 40 ASC All-Conference selections, 2 ASC Freshmen of the Year, 40 ASC All-Academic selections, and two All-Americans. The program also boasted one of the highest team grade point averages at HPU.