On April 28th, 2023 Carrie Eighmey was named the 10th head women's basketball coach in University of Idaho history.
Eighmey joined the Vandals after serving as the head coach at UNK for eight seasons, highlighted by three straight NCAA Division II Tournament appearances from 2021-23, including a trip to the Sweet 16 in 2021. She made her mark on the program, leading Nebraska-Kearney to its first MIAA championship ever in the 2020-21 season and earning the regular-season title in 2022-23.
She has over 19 years of coaching experience, including 11 as a head coach. She averaged 25 wins per year with seven teams recording 20+ win seasons and tallied a .689 winning percentage.
During the 2022-23 season, Eighmey led the Lopers to their first regular season MIAA conference title in program history. UNK boasted a 28-5 overall record and went 20-2 in conference, earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The MIAA tabbed Eighmey as the conference's Coach of the Year and earned her WBCA Division II Coach of the Year honors.
In her first year at UNK, Eighmey made an immediate impact, lifting UNK to their first winning season since 2009. The 2015-16 season saw the Lopers make it to the MIAA conference quarterfinals for the first time in program history.
Eighmey left UNK as the Lopers' second-winningest coach with an overall record of 165-74 (.690). In her last four seasons, she boasted a winning percentage of .815 with 101 wins and 23 losses. She led the team to two MIAA conference titles, one regular season title, and 17 wins over nationally ranked opponents. Eighmey mentored over 20 All-MIAA honorees including two Defensive Players of the Year, three MIAA All-Tournament selections and one MIAA All-Tournament MVP.
Prior to UNK, Eighmey served as head coach at her alma mater, Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska from 2012-15. Under Eighmey, the team had two 20+ win seasons and reached the NAIA Division II Tournament quarterfinals in 2014 and the semifinals in 2015. She had an overall record of 68-31 (.687) and a conference record of 41-19.
Before Eighmey earned the title of head coach, she served eight total years as an assistant coach at Fort Hays State University and Hastings College. Eighmey was the head assistant coach at both institutions for four years each. She began her coaching career at Hastings in 2004 and transitioned over to Fort Hays in 2008.
Eighmey was an accomplished player at Hastings from 2000-2004. She etched her name in the record book as the all-time leader in career assists and steals. She is still ranked ninth in school history with 1,508 career points and fourth with 244 3-point FGs. During her time, the Broncos reached the NAIA Tournament every year, highlighted by national championships in 2002 and 2003. Eighmey earned First Team All-American honors as well.
An Edgar, Nebraska native, Eighmey and is joined by her husband Devin.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2004-08: Hastings College (Head Assistant Coach)
2008-12: Fort Hays State University (Head Assistant Coach)
2012-15: Hastings College (Head Coach)
2015-23: University of Nebraska at Kearney (Head Coach)
2023: University of Idaho (Head Coach)
YEAR-BY-YEAR WITH COACH EIGHMEY
At UNK
2022-23 28-5 (20-2) NCAA 1st Round; MIAA Regular Season Champs
2021-22 24-8 (13-5) NCAA 2nd Round; MIAA Tournament Semis
2020-21 22-3 (19-3) NCAA Sweet 16; MIAA Tournament Champs
2019-20 26-6 (14-5) MIAA Tournament Semis
2018-19 15-14 (8-11) MIAA Tournament 1st Rd.
2017-18 21-7 (13-6) MIAA Tournament 1st Rd.
2016-17 12-16 (8-11) MIAA Tournament 1st Rd.
2015-16 16-14 (11-11) MIAA Tournament Quarters
165-74 (111-54)
At Hastings (Neb.) College
2014-15 25-9 (15-5) NAIA Final Four
2013-14 28-6 (16-4) NAIA Elite Eight; Co-GPAC Regular Season Champs
2012-13 15-16 (10-10) GPAC Tournament Quarters
68-31 (41-19)
Totals 233-105 (152-73 Conf.)
