Head Coach Rick Neumann
Rick Neumann
Head Coach
Deeply rooted into the fabric of the University of Mary, Marauders women’s basketball head coach Rick Neumann took over the program in 2012 after many years serving as the assistant coach at his alma mater. A key component in UMary women’s basketball reaching their first NCAA tournament appearance, Neumann is the eighth head coach in program history.
In seven seasons directing the Marauders, UMary student-athletes have combined to earn 37 Northern Sun All-Academic team honors, three Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction awards, landed 11 players on the all-conference team, placed three players on the all-rookie squad and had four all-defensive team selections. He has also coached two All-Americans, a freshman All-American, two all-region choices, the NSIC Player of the Year, the NSIC Defender of the Year and an NSIC Freshman of the Year.
Neumann won his 100th career game during the 2018-19 women's basketball season and led the Marauders to a record of 17-9 overall. UMary placed 5th in the Northern Sun (15-7 league record) and hosted a conference tournament game. Cassie Askvig earned honorable mention All-American and was first team All-Region selection after being named the 2019 NSIC Player of the Year, a first for the Marauders programs. Joining Askvig as a first team All-NSIC selection was Gabbie Bohl. Bolh also was named to the NSIC All-Defensive Team. Six Marauders earned NSIC All-Academic Team accolades.
The Marauders had two sophomores claim All-Northern Sun players in 2017-18. Gabbie Bohl earned first team honors while Cassie Askvig was named to the second team. Bohl is just the Marauders fifth player to twice earn All-NSIC recognition. Dani Williams cleared 1,000 points in her career during the season. Eight Marauders were named to the NSIC All-Academic team and Anna Schmelzer earned NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction honors.
Placing fourth in the NSIC North in 2016-17, the Marauders earned their fifth home playoff game since joining the Northern Sun. Gabbie Bohl was named the NSIC Freshman of the Year and landed a spot on the All-NSIC second team and all-freshman team. She also received freshman All-American honors from the Basketball Bulletin. Bohl is just the Marauders second NSIC Freshman of the Year. Lauren Rotunda joined Bohl on the all-freshman team. Hannah Larson was selected for the NSIC all-defensive team for a second straight year. Larson also earned NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction honors with five UMary players landing on the league’s all-academic team.
All-American Brittney Dietz was the story of the 2015-16 season, setting school single season (674 points) and career (1,836) records. The senior from Dickinson, ND, also set the NSIC single season mark for points (488), averaged 21.7 points/game to earn NSIC first team honors, all-region recognition and honorable mention All-American status. Hannah Larson claimed second team all-league honors and was named to the all-defensive team. Six Marauders Northern Sun All-Academic team membership.
Brittney Dietz led a young team in 2014-15, earning All-NSIC second team honors after averaging nearly 17 PPG and becoming the 15th Marauders player to crack 1,000 points. Four Marauders Northern Sun All-Academic team membership.
Led by senior post player Linda Murray, the Marauders finished third in the NSIC North Division and advanced to the conference tournament quarterfinals in 2013-14. UMary earned a first-round home game and defeated Winona State 72-66 on their way to finishing the season 17-10 overall and 14-8 in league play. A two-time All-NSIC first team selection. Murray averaged 17 points and ten rebounds per game. Two Marauders Northern Sun All-Academic team membership and Lindsey Sand earned NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction honors.
Despite playing all season without all-conference center Linda Murray, Neumann led the Marauders to a record of 19-11 overall and 13-9 in the NSIC his first season as head coach in 2012-13. UMary advanced to the conference tournament quarterfinals after defeating Upper Iowa in the opening round. The Marauders on-court success translated into post-season honors. Shaunna Knife was the NSIC Defensive Player of the Year and joined teammate Ali Collins on the All-Northern Sun first team. Brittney Dietz found a spot in the league’s all-freshman team. Two Marauders Northern Sun All-Academic team honors.
Neumann took over the Marauders program just days before the team officially opened practice for the 2012-13 season.
Neumann joined his alma mater as an assistant coach in 2003, the same fall Fridley joined the program as the head coach. In nine years the duo produced a record of 170-91. The Marauders qualified for post-season play four times in the seven seasons the school was eligible. Only once during that stretch did the program suffer a losing record.
As an assistant, Neumann was involved in all aspects of the program. The last two seasons he served as the recruiting coordinator and played an integral role in game preparation, player development, and team strategy.
In his first season at UMary, the 2003-2004 Marauders advanced to the NAIA national tournament “Final Four,” finishing with an overall record of 32-3 and winning the DAC-10 regular season and post-season tournament championships. In the school’s last season of NAIA competition in 2004-05, the Marauders again won the DAC-10 title and advanced to the second round of the NAIA playoffs. As an assistant at UMary, Neumann coached four All-Americans, 15 all-conference performers, two conference most valuable players, two conference defensive players of the year, 20 conference players of the week and 26 All-NSIC scholar-athletes.
Prior to joining the Marauders, Neumann served as the women’s basketball head coach for three years at St. Mary’s Central High School in Bismarck, ND. Neumann also was an assistant for the boy’s program for four seasons, helping lead the Saints to two state tournament appearances.
A native of Fesseden, ND, Neumann is a 1998 graduate from UMary with degrees in Social & Behavioral Sciences and Physical Education Teaching. Neumann holds a master’s degree in education from UMary as well.
Rick and his wife Jenny live in Bismarck with their children Grace, Emma and Grant.