MILWAUKEE -- Jessica Ott has been named Alverno College's new director of athletics and head basketball coach. In these roles, she will head the basketball program, lead the athletics department in recruitment and retention efforts, supervise all athletics personnel and oversee the overall development and operation of the athletics department.

"We are thrilled to have Jess join our staff and lead the program," said Jim Oppermann, senior vice president for finance & management services and chair of the search and hiring committee. "We are confident and honored to have her guide us into the next chapter of Inferno athletics."

Ott comes to Alverno from the Milwaukee School of Engineering where she was a two-time Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference coach of the year while serving as the assistant director of athletics since 2009, and head basketball coach and senior woman administrator since 2002. Prior to becoming the assistant athletics director, Ott served as the assistant athletics facilities director, assistant sports information director and head softball coach. She brings 16 years of coaching experience and 15 years of administrative experience to the Inferno.

"It is an honor to be named Alverno's next director of athletics and head basketball coach," said Ott. "I've always admired the sense of pride of Alverno's student athletes and how well prepared they are for success on and off the court."

In 14 seasons as head basketball coach, Ott compiled 146 wins. She earned her first coach of the year honor in 2009 when she guided the Raiders to the first .500 season in program history with a 13-13 record. The team had 11 more wins than the previous season, which earned the best turnaround of any team in NCAA Division III during that season. She was honored with her second award in 2012 when she led MSOE to the first winning season (17-10) in school history. Her 2015 team went 20-7 while last year's squad went 18-8 and 16-4 in the NACC, just a game back of first place.

Ott inherits an Inferno team that was 14-11 (11-9 in NACC play). It was Alverno's third winning season in the past four years. "I am very excited for the first day of practice," added Ott. "This team is youthful and talented. I am looking forward to adding to the foundation that has been built over the years and eager to connect with many great alumnae and supporters."

Ott is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Director of Athletics, Women's Basketball Coaches Association and the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. She earned her bachelor's degree in communication from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point where she was named Most Valuable Player three times, honored as Female Athlete of the Year in 1999-2000 and was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. She was a three-time first team All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference player for the Pointers, she still holds the UWSP all-time record for most three-point field goals made (223) and is third on the career scoring list with 1,592 points.

The New Glarus native will begin her duties at Alverno on July 18 succeeding Brad Duckworth, who served as the director of athletics and head basketball coach for nine years. He was recently named the new director of athletics at UW-Stevens Point.