2011-12 Women's Basketball
| Transouth | Pct. | Overall | Pct | Streak | Home | Away | Neutral |
| 3-7 | .300 | 8-15 | .348 | Lost 1 | 4-6 | 4-8 | 0-1 |
Coaches
Ryan Smith
Head Coach- 1st Season
MCU Hires New Head Coach
Mid-Continent University athletics director Larry Lampkins announced April 12 that Ryan Smith has been selected to as MCU's new women's basketball coach. "Ryan Smith has established himself as a very knowledgeable and capable basketball coach, and I believe that he will be an asset to our coaching staff," says Lampkins.
Smith, a 2009 Mid-Continent University graduate with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, served as a full-time assistant men's basketball coach under head coach Winston Bennett from 2009-11, and was a student assistant coach for the 2008-09 season. Smith has played a significant role in recruiting and scouting.
MCU men's basketball has posted 50 victories in the last three seasons, including a school-record 24 wins in 2009-10 when the Cougars tied for second place in the TranSouth Athletics Conference, won the National Christian College Athletics Association (NCCAA) Mideast Regional and placed third at the NCCAA National Championships. Two Cougars, center Kenny Thomas and forward Chris Ferguson, have been selected for both NAIA and NCCAA All-America honors in the last three seasons, and three MCU players have won All-TSAC first team honors - Thomas (twice), Ferguson, and guard Joshua Woodley.
Smith played for MCU's junior varsity team in 2007-08, and served as Mid-Continent University student government president as a senior in 2008-09. He attended Portland Christian School in Louisville, Kentucky, where he set school records in career three-point field goals, consecutive free throws made and free throws made in a game without a miss. In high school, Ryan was active in student government, serving as junior class vice president. After graduating from Portland Christian, Smith attended the University of Louisville and Indiana University-Southeast before transferring to Mid-Continent.
Upon accepting the position, Smith commented: "I am completely thrilled to accept the women's head coaching position here at my alma mater. Without the guidance of my former boss, coach Winston Bennett, this opportunity could never have become a reality for me. He has truly propelled me, and I owe him an incredible debt of gratitude."
"I must also thank our president, Dr. Robert Imhoff, and athletics director Larry Lampkins for having faith in me to pour my talents and energy into this job. Most importantly, I thank God for his unfathomable goodness and all that He has done for me and what He continues to do for the women's basketball team and Mid-Continent University."
On his goals and ambitions, Smith comments: "Of course, our goal will be to put a winning basketball team on the court that understands the importance of their relationship with God, commitment to the classroom and the passion required to compete in the best NAIA women's basketball conference in the nation."
Kelley Casebier
Assistant Coach- 1st Season
MAYFIELD, Ky. - Mid-Continent University athletics director Larry Lampkins and new head women's basketball coach Ryan Smith have announced the selection of K.C. Van Atta as assistant women's basketball coach.
Coach Smith, who took over the reins of MCU's women's basketball fortunes in April, expressed high regard for Van Atta: "KC.'s Christian character and passion for the game has been evident since I first ran into her in 2007. She had a great career at Trevecca, and I'm confident that she will continue her quest for excellence now as my assistant coach. K.C. understands the strength of the TranSouth conference and has ‘lived' the game as the daughter of an excellent coach, Gary van Atta (head women's basketball coach at Trevecca Nazarene). I am excited to have her as the newest part of the Lady Cougar family."
After being selected for her first collegiate coaching position, K.C. Van Atta commented, "It is such a blessing to be given an opportunity to be a part of Mid-Continent University's women's basketball program. The Christian environment that this university cultivates was an important factor in my decision to accept this position. I look forward to helping build a program that distinguishes itself by portraying the character of Christ on and off the floor."
Van Atta, a 2011 graduate of Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville and a 2007 graduate of Mt. Juliet High School, played four seasons for the Trojans, and totaled 1,384 points (11.5 per game), 435 rebounds (3.6 per game), 161 assists (1.3 per game), 85 steals and 112 blocked shots in 120 career games. A 6-0 forward, she holds the Trevecca school record with 243 three-point field goals in 744 career attempts (.327).
Van Atta received All-TranSouth second team and TranSouth Scholar-Athlete honors as a sophomore in 2008-09, averaging 13.5 points and 3.7 rebounds with 66 three-pointers, and scored her collegiate career high of 30 points with a career-best eight three-pointers in Nov. 7 contest against Shorter College.
Van Atta, who led Mt. Juliet to more than 90 wins in her last three seasons of high school, also played on the TACA East-West All-Star team and on the Tennessee Elite AAU team. She also made the TSSAA All-State Tournament team.
W - Basketball
