{{Short description|American basketball coach}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}} {{Infobox college coach | name = Carrie Eighmey | current_title = Head coach | current_team = [[South Dakota Coyotes women's basketball|South Dakota]] | current_conference = [[Summit League]] | current_record = {{winning percentage|37|29|record=y}} | player_years1 = 2000–2004 | player_team1 = [[Hastings College|Hastings]] | player_positions = Point guard | coach_years1 = 2004–2008 | coach_team1 = Hastings (assistant) | overall_record = {{winning percentage|284|149|record=y}} | coach_years2 = 2008–2012 | coach_team2 = [[Fort Hays State Tigers|Fort Hays State]] (assistant) | coach_years3 = 2012–2015 | coach_team3 = Hastings | coach_years4 = 2015–2023 | coach_team4 = [[Nebraska–Kearney Lopers|Nebraska–Kearney]] | coach_years5 = 2023–2024 | coach_team5 = [[Idaho Vandals women's basketball|Idaho]] | coach_years6 = 2024–present | coach_team6 = [[South Dakota Coyotes women's basketball|South Dakota]] |championships= *[[Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association|MIAA]] regular season (2023) *[[Great Plains Athletic Conference|GPAC]] regular season (2014) }}
'''Carrie Eighmey''' ({{Birth name|'''Hofstetter'''}}) is an [[Americans|American]] basketball [[Coach (basketball)|coach]] and former player who is the current head coach of the [[South Dakota Coyotes women's basketball]] team.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Carrie Eighmey - Women's Basketball Coach |url=https://goyotes.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/carrie-eighmey/1567 |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=University of South Dakota Athletics |language=en}}</ref> She was also previously the head coach at the [[Idaho Vandals|University of Idaho]], The [[Nebraska–Kearney Lopers|University of Nebraska-Kearney]], and her alma mater, [[Hastings College]].
==Early life and education== Eighmey grew up in [[Edgar, Nebraska]] and went to [[Sandy Creek High School (Nebraska)|Sandy Creek High School]]. While at Sandy Creek, Eighmey was part of a Cougar program that had a 95-game winning streak from 1997 to 2000, and won four straight [[Nebraska School Activities Association|NSAA]] C-1 girls basketball titles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carrie Eighmey Steps Down as Head Coach of UNK Women's Basketball |url=https://lopers.com/news/2023/4/28/carrie-eighmey-steps-down-as-head-coach-of-loper-womens-basketball.aspx |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics |language=en}}</ref> She was recruited to play at Hastings College, winning the 2002 and 2003 NAIA National Championships with Hastings College under [[Tony Hobson (basketball)|Tony Hobson]].
== Coaching career ==
=== Hastings College & Fort Hays State (assistant) === After she graduated from Hastings College in 2004,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Carrie Eighmey - Women's Basketball Coach |url=https://goyotes.com/sports/womens-basketball/roster/coaches/carrie-eighmey/1567 |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=University of South Dakota Athletics |language=en}}</ref> Eighmey would serve as an assistant coach with Hobson, winning a third NAIA Championship in 2006. When Hobson took over at NCAA Division II school Fort Hays State University in 2008, Eighmey followed and was an assistant coach for four seasons.
=== Hastings College (Head Coach) === Eighmey would return to her alma mater when Hastings College named Eighmey as their head coach on June 18, 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 18, 2012 |title=Hofstetter '04 returns to HC as Head Coach for Women's Basketball |url=https://www.hastingsbroncos.com/sports/wbkb/2012-13/releases/20121017_Hofstetter_04_returns_to_HC_as_Head_Coach_for_Womens_Basketball |website=www.hastingsbroncos.com |publisher=Hastings College Athletics}}</ref> During her three seasons with the Broncos she had two NAIA Tournament appearances and won the 2013-14 [[Great Plains Athletic Conference]] regular season title.
=== Nebraska-Kearney === Eighmey was named the seventh head coach of the University of Nebraska at Kearney program on March 30, 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-03-30 |title=Carrie Hofstetter Named 7th Women's Basketball Coach |url=https://lopers.com/news/2015/3/30/WBB_0330155347.aspx |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics |language=en}}</ref> During her eight years at UNK, the Lopers won the [[Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association|MIAA]] Conference Tournament in the 2020–21 season,<ref>{{Cite web |title='Dream Come True': Lopers Win First MIAA Title, Qualify for National Tournament |url=https://lopers.com/news/2021/3/8/womens-basketball-dream-come-true-lopers-win-first-miaa-title-qualify-for-national-tournament.aspx |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics |language=en}}</ref> and won the MIAA Regular Season Championship in the 2022–23 season. The Lopers also had three tournament appearances during her tenure.
==== Individual Accolades ==== Eighmey won the 2020-21 NCAA Division II Coach of the Year honor from the online publication [https://www.worldexposurereport.com/home World Exposure Report],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eighmey Picks Up National Coach of the Year Award |url=https://lopers.com/news/2021/4/20/womens-basketball-eighmey-picks-up-national-coach-of-the-year-award.aspx |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics |language=en}}</ref> and was a finalist for the WBCA Division II Coach of the Year honor in the 2022–23 season, which ultimately went to Kari Pickens of Ashland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eighmey Tabbed by the WBCA |url=https://lopers.com/news/2023/3/17/womens-basketball-eighmey-tabbed-by-the-wbca.aspx |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics |language=en}}</ref>
=== Idaho === After eight seasons at UNK, Eighmey left the Lopers for her first Division I job with the Idaho Vandals. After one season where the Vandals season ended in the Big Sky Quarterfinals, Eighmey resigned to become the next head coach at South Dakota. Idaho's administration was criticized<ref>{{Cite web |title=COMMENTARY: Mishandling of Carrie Eighmey's contract is another lowlig... |url=https://www.lmtribune.com/sports/commentary-mishandling-of-carrie-eighmeys-contract-is-another-lowlight-for-the-university-of-idaho-3f6218da |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=The Lewiston Tribune |language=en}}</ref> after Eighmey did not have to pay any buyout to Idaho, because she did not sign the contract.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=SWX Sports |date=2024-04-30 |title=New details emerge about Carrie Eighmey leaving Idaho after one season without having to pay any buyout |url=https://www.swxlocalsports.com/spokane/idaho/new-details-emerge-about-carrie-eighmey-leaving-idaho-after-one-season-without-having-to-pay/article_f219fccc-0746-11ef-b748-abfa0d0ed5f0.html |access-date=2026-03-12 |website=Nonstop Local SWX Sports |language=en}}</ref> [[Arthur Moreira]], who Eighmey hired as her associate head coach, was elevated to the head coaching position after her departure.
=== South Dakota === On April 30, 2024, Eighmey was hired as head women's basketball coach at the [[University of South Dakota]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-30 |title=USD hires Idaho's Carrie Eighmey as new women's hoops coach |url=https://www.sdpb.org/sports-rec/2024-04-30/usd-hires-idahos-carrie-eighmey-as-new-womens-hoops-coach?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw9eO3BhBNEiwAoc0-jfiQN8E5h1fnBrNgaEmXf8alb9pMwDtT3kqrQVBMmNh7qoSaeW_Z7xoCg_wQAvD_BwE |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=sodakpb |language=en}}</ref> After her first season, where the Coyotes finished eight games below .500, Eighmey and her staff had a 15-game turnaround and finished in the [[Summit League]] tournament semifinals. The Coyotes qualified for the [[2026 Women's National Invitation Tournament|WNIT]] in the 2025-26 season, defeating Northern Colorado, Pepperdine, and Montana State; before falling to Illinois State in the Fab 4.
== Head coaching record == {{CBB Yearly Record Start|type=|conference=|postseason=|poll=}} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|name=[[Hastings Broncos]]|conference=[[Great Plains Athletic Conference]]|startyear=2012|endyear=2015}} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry|championship=|season=2012–13|name=Hastings|overall=15–16|conference=10–10|confstanding=T–6th|postseason=}} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry|championship=conference|season=2013–14|name=Hastings|overall=28–6|conference=16–4|confstanding=T–1st|postseason=NAIA Division II Quarterfinals}} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry|championship=|season=2014–15|name=Hastings|overall=25–9|conference=15–5|confstanding=3rd|postseason=NAIA Division II Semifinals}} {{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal|name=Hastings|overall={{Winning percentage|68|31|record=y}}|confrecord={{Winning percentage|41|9|record=y}}}} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|name=[[Nebraska–Kearney Lopers]]|conference=[[Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association]]|startyear=2015|endyear=2023}} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry|championship=|season=2015–16|name=Nebraska–Kearney|overall=16–14|conference=11–11|confstanding=T–6th|postseason=}} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry|championship=|season=2016–17|name=Nebraska–Kearney|overall=12–16|conference=8–11|confstanding=8th|postseason=}} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry|championship=|season=2017–18|name=Nebraska–Kearney|overall=21–7|conference=13–6|confstanding=T–4th|postseason=}} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry|championship=|season=2018–19|name=Nebraska–Kearney|overall=15–14|conference=8–11|confstanding=T–8th|postseason=}} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry|championship=|season=2019–20|name=Nebraska–Kearney|overall=26–6|conference=14–5|confstanding=3rd|postseason=}} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry|championship=|season=2020–21|name=Nebraska–Kearney|overall=22–3|conference=19–3|confstanding=T–2nd|postseason=[[2021 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament|NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen]]}} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry|championship=|season=2021–22|name=Nebraska–Kearney|overall=24–8|conference=13–5|confstanding=3rd|postseason=[[2022 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament|NCAA Division II Second Round]]}} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry|championship=conference|season=2022–23|name=Nebraska–Kearney|overall=28–5|conference=20–2|confstanding=1st|postseason=[[2023 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament|NCAA Division II First Round]]}} {{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal|name=Nebraska–Kearney|overall={{Winning percentage|164|73|record=y}}|confrecord={{Winning percentage|106|54|record=y}}}} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|name=[[Idaho Vandals women's basketball|Idaho Vandals]]|conference=[[Big Sky Conference|Big Sky]]|startyear=2023|endyear=2024}} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry|championship=|season=[[2023–24 NCAA Division I women's basketball season|2023–24]]|name=[[2023–24 Idaho Vandals women's basketball team|Idaho]]|overall=15–16|conference=8–10|confstanding=6th|postseason=}} {{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal|name=Idaho|overall={{Winning percentage|15|16|record=y}}|confrecord={{Winning percentage|8|10|record=y}}}} {{CBB Yearly Record Subhead|name=[[South Dakota Coyotes women's basketball|South Dakota Coyotes]]|conference=[[Summit League]]|startyear=2024|endyear=}} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry|championship=|season=[[2024–25 NCAA Division I women's basketball season|2024–25]]|name=[[2024–25 South Dakota Coyotes women's basketball team|South Dakota]]|overall=11–19|conference=5–11|confstanding=T–7th|postseason=}} {{CBB Yearly Record Entry|championship=|season=[[2025–26 NCAA Division I women's basketball season|2025–26]]|name=[[2025–26 South Dakota Coyotes women's basketball team|South Dakota]]|overall=26–10|conference=12–4|confstanding=3rd|postseason=[[2026 Women's National Invitation Tournament|WNIT Fab 4]]}} {{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal|name=South Dakota|overall={{Winning percentage|37|29|record=y}}|confrecord={{Winning percentage|17|15|record=y}}}} {{CBB Yearly Record End|overall={{Winning percentage|284|149|record=y}}|poll=|polltype=|polltype2=}}Sources:<ref name=":0" />
== References == <references /> {{Summit League women's basketball coach navbox}}{{Idaho Vandals women's basketball coach navbox}}{{South Dakota Coyotes women's basketball coach navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eighmey, Carrie}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:American women's basketball players]] [[Category:American women's basketball coaches]] [[Category:Hastings Broncos women's basketball players]] [[Category:Hastings Broncos women's basketball coaches]] [[Category:Fort Hays State Tigers women's basketball coaches]] [[Category:Nebraska–Kearney Lopers women's basketball coaches]] [[Category:Idaho Vandals women's basketball coaches]] [[Category:South Dakota Coyotes women's basketball coaches]]