Wheeling, W. Va. – On Tuesday, The Wheeling University Women's Basketball program announced the promotion of Ella Skeens as the new Head Women's Basketball Coach at Wheeling University. After serving as both a Graduate Assistant and Assistant Coach for the team over the past three seasons, Skeens becomes the 14th head coach in program history. Skeens will take over for former Head Coach Anna Kowalska, who has been announced as the new Associate Head Coach at NCAA DI Utah State.
"I am incredibly honored and humbled to be named the Head Women's Basketball Coach at Wheeling University," said Skeens. "I want to express my deepest gratitude to Athletic Director Carrie Hanna and President [Dianna] Vargo for believing in me, and for all they do to support not only our team but the entire Wheeling community. Their passion for student-athlete development, and their vision for the University are truly inspiring."
Skeens has been working with the Wheeling Women's Basketball team for the last two seasons, serving one year as a Graduate Assistant before being promoted to full-time assistant coach this past season. This past season, Skeens assisted a team that finished 17-12 overall and 13-7 in Mountain East Conference play. The Cardinals finished the season with their highest team seed since the 2020 MEC Tournament, grabbing the #3 seed in the conference. In two of her three seasons on the Cardinal's staff, Skeens helped the Cardinal finish with a winning record, and they improved their seeding in the tournament field during each of those three seasons.
Skeens worked extensively with the guards on both sides of the ball and helped Cardinal junior Kenzie Dalton earn the Mountain East Conference's (MEC) first-ever Defensive Player of the Year award. She has helped coach two All-MEC honorees and one All-Region player in her three years on the Cardinal sidelines, including a First-Team honoree during the 2023-2024 season. Along with her duties assisting the varsity squad, Skeens served as the Head JV Coach for the Cardinals, leading the JV squad to a perfect 8-0 record during the 2024-2025 campaign. She has been a workhorse for the Athletic Department throughout her time, and it was that hard work that earned her the first head coaching nod in her career.
"Ella Skeens indisputably ensures the highest standards of excellence and continuity for the Wheeling University Women's Basketball program's growth and success moving forward," said Athletic Director Carrie Hanna. "Coach Skeens is a tremendous blessing to our Cardinal family, and her knowledge and love for the game, program, and Wheeling University is unrivaled."
Skeens spent her playing career at three different universities, playing at the University of Rio Grande, Ball State, and the University of Dayton. She spent her final two years with Rio Grande, where she helped lead the Red Storm to a pair of conference championships, and their first-ever trip to the NAIA National Tournament. She was named the River's State Conference Player of the Year during her senior season and will have her #13 jersey retired at the University of Rio Grande later this fall. Prior to Rio Grande, Skeens spent the COVID season with Ball State and spent two prior seasons at the University of Dayton, where she led the Flyers to the Atlantic 10 Championship.
Skeens graduated from the University of Rio Grande with a bachelor's degree in social science and, in May, earned her master's in business administration from Wheeling University.
