NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Kendra Faustin, who led the Niagara University women's basketball program for eight seasons, has been named the women's basketball head coach at Ferris State University. Faustin, a native of Hartland, Michigan, returns to her home state.
 
"It is with very mixed emotions that we say goodbye to Kendra. Her leadership was evident not only in the athletic arena, but also campus wide. She built a program that is very competitive athletically, and whose academic performance is among the best of any team in the country.  Kendra has really formed the young women in our Catholic and Vincentian mission," said the Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., president of Niagara University. "While we will miss her at N.U., we know that she is excited about having the opportunity to coach in her home state, and to be close to her family."

Faustin, who was named the 2010 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Coach of the Year, recruited and coached 12 All-MAAC members, one MAAC Sixth Player of the Year, two MAAC Rookie of the Year and 43 MAAC All-Academic Team players.

"We are grateful to Kendra for her dedicated leadership and development of the student-athletes in our women's basketball program," said Simon Gray, director of athletics at Niagara University. "She has been an excellent representative of Niagara University on campus, in the community, and has formed a special bond with many of our alumni and supporters.  We wish Kendra the best as she moves home."

The Purple Eagles completed a program first under Faustin when she led NU to the 2012 and 2013 MAAC Tournament semifinals to mark the first time in program history the Purple Eagles made consecutive semifinals appearances.

Faustin's Purple Eagles excelled in the classroom. The 2007-08 team was ranked 13th on the Academic Top 25 Honor Roll with a 3.361 cumulative team GPA. The program's cumulative team GPA has exceeded 3.0 in each of Faustin's eight seasons leading the program. This year's squad was recognized by the NCAA for its academic success. For the second consecutive season the team's Academic Progress Rate ranked in the top 10 percent of schools nationally. 
 
The Purple Eagles have received a perfect 1000 score in the last two Academic Progress Rate (APR) reports and Meghan McGuinness earned 2014-15 Capital One Academic All-District Women's Basketball First Team honors.
 
"While I have been blessed to be the head coach at Niagara University, the opportunity to coach at Ferris State University in my home state of Michigan and in the league that I began my collegiate career is a tremendous one for myself and our family," Faustin said.   "I cannot begin to put into words how much my time at Niagara has meant to me. I am extremely proud of what we have built and accomplished over the last eight years.  I would like to thank our current and past players for all their hard work and dedication and for making me a better coach and person.  Our staff has been second to none, and I am grateful and proud to have worked with them.  I would like to thank the Rev. Joseph Levesque, C.M., Dr. Bonnie Rose and Michael Jaszka, for giving me the opportunity to be at Niagara University.  My sincerest gratitude goes to president Reverend James Maher, C.M. and director of athletics Simon Gray and for their leadership and support."   

A search for a new head coach is underway.

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