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Blake DuDonis' resume includes several positions in and around women's college basketball -- D1 assistant, SEC broadcaster, WNBA scout. Now he can add head coach to that list.
UW-River Falls named DuDonis as its new head women's basketball coach, replacing Cindy Holbrook who stepped down at the end of the 2017-18 season.
Director of Athletics Crysal Lanning made the announcement via release on Friday.
"[Blake] is an experienced recruiter and has a passion for developing competitive student-athletes in the classroom and on the court," said Lanning in the release. "He is a strong advocate for the game of women's basketball and will bring a high level of energy to our women's basketball program and to the athletic department."
DuDonis comes to River Falls from Blue Star Basketball, which runs camps that connect women's basketball recruits with college coaches. DuDonis was also an advanced regional scout for the WNBA's Washington Mystics. He was previously an assistant coach at Division II Merrimack College and Division I University of Buffalo. He also spent two years on the coaching staff at his alma mater Gardner-Webb.
"This program will be run with great enthusiasm, integrity, and passion as we pursue excellence in all that we do," said DuDonis in the release. "My staff and I will work hard to ensure our student-athletes become the best they can be in every area of their life during their time here at UW-River Falls and will be ready to make an impact on the world once they graduate. "
DuDonis has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Gardner Webb and worked as a broadcaster for the SEC network. His wife Carly Thibault-DuDonis is an assistant at Division I Mississippi State and her father Michael is the head coach and general manager for the Washington Mystics.
The hire completes the transition from Cindy Holbrook, who stepped down as the Falcons' head coach in June 2018. River Falls went 10-15, 4-10 in the WIAC under interim head coach Paul Richie last season.