Sul Ross State University named Katherine "Katie" Novaks Peebles as its new head women's basketball coach, giving the Lobos their third head coach in less than five months. Peebles replaces Cliff Carroll who coached the Lobos on an interim basis after Caleb Henson resigned from the post in January.
University Director of Athletics Bobby Mesker announced the move on Friday.
"We are excited to have coach Peebles join our staff," said Mesker in a University release. "We are confident that her experience as a coach and former student-athlete at the college level will help build on and continue the success of our women's basketball program."
Peebles previously coached at NAIA Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio and was the team camps coordinator for Webster. As a student athlete Peebles played three seasons at Division II St. Joseph's (Ind.), finished her bachelor's degree there and then played one season at University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio where she earned her master's degree.
“I want to thank Bobby Mesker and everyone on the search committee for this opportunity,” Peebles said. “From the moment I arrived on campus, I had a sense of family. For me, newly married, I am excited to put down roots here and join the campus and Alpine communities.”
Peebles will try to bring stability to the Sul Ross State women's basketball program which has had five coaches in four seasons.
After a two-year stint at Sul Ross State, Aaron Tavitas stepped down last offseason and was replaced by Caleb Henson, an assistant coach for the 2016 Division II national championship team at Lubbock Christian. Henson resigned in January, saying in a University release, "In my interest to improve the student athletes, I inadvertently made a mistake that regrettably has affected a lot of people I care about. I wish nothing but the best for the future of the women’s basketball team and Sul Ross State University.”
Henson was replaced by men's coach Clif Carroll on an interim basis. The Lobos posted a 6-9 record with Henson and a 4-7 record after his resignation.
Sul Ross State finished the season with a 10-16, 7-9 record in the ASC, the Lobos' best mark since at least 2006-07.