Last Friday, at a press conference in the OU Credit Union O’Rena, athletic director Steve Waterfield introduced Keisha Newell as the new women’s head basketball coach.
“I’m honored to lead the Oakland University women’s basketball team to this next chapter,” Newell proudly stated. “OU is a special place, and I’m excited to be part of a program that inspires hard work and togetherness.”
Newell had spent the three previous years coaching at Division II Lewis University and appears to be an excellent hire. She led the Lewis University Flyers to three consecutive Division II NCAA tournament appearances, finishing with 20-plus wins each season, most recently amassing a 26-4 record in the 2024-25 season before losing to Wayne State University in the first round of the tournament.
Under Newell’s leadership, the Flyers also won two Great Lakes Valley Conference regular-season titles and one tournament title. She also spent time at Roosevelt University, another Division II school, where she had similar success.
Newell is no stranger to the Horizon League, either. As a player, Newell was a three-year starter for Loyola Chicago before joining their coaching staff from 2010 to 2014. Loyola Chicago was a member of the Horizon League athletic conference until 2013, so Newell has been around the block when it comes to Horizon League basketball.
“I’m excited about the competitiveness every single game and to go back to the gyms that I have such great memories at,” she said when asked about being back in the league.
It’s obvious that this team will need a culture reset and a renewed commitment to excellence; Newell seems hyper-focused and committed to delivering just that.
“I want to build a team that plays for each other, holds each other accountable, and a team that loves one another. We are preparing this program to compete for championships,” Newell said. “We’re going to work, we’re going to compete, and we’re going to do it together.”
Not only does Newell want to compete, but she already has the blueprint to do so. Her prior teams were characterized by excellent offense, and she wants to bring this fast-paced style of play to Oakland.
“On the court, our identity will be clean, hard-nosed defense, aggressive rebounding, and up-tempo pace,” Newell said on the team’s style of play.
To go along with that, you need the right sort of player, which Newell also knows well. When asked about what made her successful at her other coaching positions, Newell emphasized character.
“High character. We are looking for players that not only treat their teammates the right way but how you interact with officials and deal with adversity,” Newell said. “[They need to have] the ability to buy in and play for something bigger than yourself. This is a team sport, not an individual sport. Grit. [They need to have] the ability to face hard times. Basketball is a quick sport with mistakes, but we will teach about overcoming adversity and moving past mistakes.”
Newell concluded her interview with a simple statement, but one that seems to perfectly encapsulate what she’s all about.
“Let’s get to work.”
