ABILENE – Head women's basketball coach
Julie Goodenough has signed a contract extension, keeping her with the program she has built all the way to the top through the 2025-26 season. Goodenough has built a perennial power at ACU, and just recently completed her ninth season with the Wildcats, compiling a 471-306 record. The contract keeps her on the side in Purple and White for the next five seasons.
"Everyday I am excited to come to work," said Goodenough. "I love ACU and truly love my job. I have the privilege of working alongside a great staff, coaching impressive young women, and being led by wonderful Christian leaders who have the most amazing vision for ACU athletics."
Goodenough's time at ACU came with immediate success, as the team qualified for the NCAA Regional in the final year as a Division II member in the 2012-13. Even during the four-year transition to NCAA Division II, the team won back-to-back Southland Conference championships in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. It all came to fruiton in the 2018-19 year, culimating with the program's first-ever Southland Conference tournament championship and the first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats backed it up with a 24-win campaign in the 2019-20 season that was cut short due to the pandemic, and the team once again played in the postseason in 2020-21 at the WBI in Frankfort, Ky.
"This may not have been a typical year for Julie and our women's program, but I have complete confidence in her leadership and believe in her vision for the program," said Athletics Director
Allen Ward. "I have no doubt we will be competing for championships again real soon. This extension is evidence of ACU's commitment to Julie and my appreciation for all she has and is doing for our program. The future for our women's basketball program is incredibly bright."
ACU has qualified for a postseason tournament in seven of Goodenough's nine seasons, with three conference championships in that span. And now as the program shifts into a new era when it joins the Western Athletic Conference in the summer, Goodenough is the perfect person to stay at the helm and keep the success and momentum of the program headed in the best direction.
"We have already been blessed with much success, but I do believe the best is yet to come," added Goodenough. "Joining the newly realigned WAC and the opportunity to play in a new arena certainly makes the future of ACU women's basketball exciting. I'm very thankful to be here."
Get ready to keep hearing more "Team First Wins" at ACU. Because it does.
