Cowgirl Hoops: Jacie Hoyt Hires Mandi Carver as Assistant Coach

Jacie Hoyt’s offseason has maybe been as impressive as the Cowgirls’ season, which is really saying something.

Hoyt hired Mandi Carver as an assistant coach, the program announced Monday. Carver comes to Oklahoma State from Fresno State, where she has been the past 11 seasons, serving as an assistant from 2014 to 2016 before being elevated to associate head coach of the Bulldogs. With Carver on staff, Fresno State had three 20-win seasons.

“Mandi is a great fit for our culture,” said Hoyt in OSU’s release. “Her passion for basketball and developing women on and off the court shines through her. She had a very illustrious playing career, and I know our players will greatly benefit from her knowledge and ability to develop them at the highest level.

“She has recruited and developed some of the country’s best talents in the last few years, and I am positive she will do the same for us. Mandi is more than just a recruiter, she has a great mind for basketball and has been heavily involved in X’s and O’s at a very successful Fresno State program. She is one of the Swiss Army knives of our profession and we are proud she is a Cowgirl.”

Hoyt was not kidding about Carver having an illustrious playing career. She went to college at Idaho State and left as the Bengals’ all-time leader in points (1,538), rebounds (1,098) and blocks (180). She led the nation in rebounding in the 2001-02 season.

Carver signed with the WNBA’s Detroit Shock in 2002 and played overseas from 2002 to 2009. She won MVP awards in the Swiss League and Latvian League, was a two-time All-Star in Greece and was named the Arab Clubs Tournament MVP. She won championships in France, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Latvia and the Adriatic League.

Her college coaching career started as an assistant and recruiting coordinator at Cal State-Bakersfield and San Jose State before settling in at Fresno State.

Carver has coached 30 all-conference selections, including 2015 Mountain West Co-Player of the Year Alex Sheedy, 2016 and 2017 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year Bego Faz Davalos, 2020 Mountain West Player of the Year Maddi Utti, and 2021 Mountain West Player of the Year Haley Cavinder.

“I am honored and excited to join the Oklahoma State women’s basketball program,” Carver said. “This is a university with a proud tradition and a passionate fanbase and I am eager to contribute to the growth, development and success of our student-athletes both on and off the court. I cannot wait to get to work alongside Coach Jacie and this incredible staff.”

Last last month, ESPN’s Charlie Creme included OSU in his “Top 10 transfer portal winners,” putting the Cowgirls at No. 7 with the additions of Amari Whiting (BYU), Haleigh Timmer (South Dakota State), Tyla Heard (Oral Roberts), Achol Akot (UCF) and Faith Acker (Tarleton State). OSU is reportedly also adding Nigerian center Favour Onoh. Those five college transfers combined to average 41.3 points, 25 rebounds and 9.2 assists a game last season.