Courtesy of GoCobbers.com, Release: May 1, 2007

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WINONA, Minn. (5/01/07)-- Former Concordia standout basketball player, and two-time MIAC MVP, Mandy Pearson was named the head women's basketball coach at St. Mary's in Winona, Minn. on Monday. Pearson played for the Cobbers from 2002-05 during which time she was named the conference MVP twice, earned All-region honors twice and was named as an All-American in her senior season.

Press release courtesy of the St. Mary's SID:

On the court, Mandy Pearson enjoyed more than her share of success during her four seasons at Concordia-Moorhead:

She was the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's Player of the Year — not once, but twice. She was named to the All-MIAC First Team three times, was a D3hoops.com All-West Region first-teamer twice and earned MIAC All-Defensive Team honors on two occasions.

Oh, and her senior season ended with All-American honors.

Now, Pearson is hoping to be as successful behind the bench — as Saint Mary's University's new head women's basketball coach — as she was as a player.

"I am honored for the opportunity Saint Mary's has given me," said Pearson, who takes over for Shawn Stimmel, who stepped down after one season to accept the head women's basketball position at Mount Mercy. "Being a head women's basketball coach has always been a dream of mine and I am so thankful for what lies ahead of me.

"I have been involved in the MIAC — playing and coaching (as an assistant coach the past two seasons at Hamline) — for the past six years and am very excited to continue my career in the conference as a head coach," Pearson added. "I am excited to take all the things I have learned as an athlete and coach, and use them to lead this program.

"Saint Marys basketball has a great tradition, and I am thrilled to have an opportunity to work towards MIAC championships in the future."

Pearson closed her Cobber career with 1,346 points and 640 assists. She is the first player in the history of either basketball program at Concordia to break the 1,000-point barrier and the 500-assist marker. She is fifth on the all-time scoring list and third in assists. Her 175 assists during her senior season also rank No. 8 in the program's history.

"Having played in the MIAC is going to be a plus for me," Pearson said. "Playing between two and three games per week plus all the academic stress, can be very difficult for the student-athletes. Having played in the league myself, I will be able to relate with the women in the program and have a better understanding of what they are going through."

SMU athletic director Nikki Fennern agrees.

"Mandy brings with her a vast knowledge of the MIAC, both as a player and as a coach," said Fennern, whose new head coach inherits a program that went 5-16 in the MIAC and 7-18 overall last season. "The work ethic, intensity, and integrity that she brings will make her a highly successful head coach, as well as a tremendous role model.

"Under her leadership, the SMU women's basketball program has a bright future."