Colorado Christian University Women's Basketball

Awards Under Coach Carissa Ratliff RMAC Honorable Mention, Victoria Perez, 2024-25 RMAC Honorable Mention, Dasiya Jones, 2024-25 RMAC Honorable Mention, Nicole Bowlin, 2024-25 Carissa Ratliff (formerly Verkaik) took over as the Interim Head Coach of CCU’s Women’s Basketball in October of the 2024–25 season. Prior to this season, she served as an assistant coach for the Cougars from 2018–2022 and spent six years overall in the Colorado Christian University athletic department, including two years assisting the track & field program.  Before beginning her coaching career, Ratliff was one of the most decorated NCAA Division III athletes of her era. A standout at Calvin University (MI), she is the program’s all-time leader in points (2,236) and blocked shots (440), and ranks second in career rebounds (1,071). She received NCAA DIII All-American honors all four years of her career, was a four-time MIAA Most Valuable Player, and was named to the D3hoops.com All-Decade First Team for the 2010s. Following her playing career, Ratliff taught middle school math and Bible and began coaching basketball and track and field at the high school level and later transitioned to collegiate coaching in 2016–17. While coaching at Colorado Christian, she pursued and earned her Master’s degree in Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Northern Colorado in 2019, with an emphasis in the Social Psychology of Sport. During her coaching career she has had 10 players receive RMAC All-Conference recognition and has helped hold the WBB program to high standards in the classroom  including with this past year's team achieving a GPA average of 3.7.  Ratliff is married to her loving and supportive husband, Levi Ratliff, and they were blessed to become parents this past spring to their beautiful little girl.       

Awards Under Coach Priddy  RMAC Honorable Mention, Victoria Perez, 2024-25 RMAC Honorable Mention, Dasiya Jones, 2024-25 RMAC Honorable Mention, Nicole Bowlin, 2024-25 D2CCA All Region, Maggie Hutka, 2023-24 RMAC First Team All Conference, Maggie Hutka, 2023-24 RMAC Honorable Mention, Dasiya Jones, 2023-24 RMAC Honorable Mention, Nicole Bowlin, 2023-24 RMAC Tournament Appearance, 2023-24 From Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Sydney’s love for basketball led her to Regis University for two years and later to Colorado Christian University. Throughout her time at both universities, she demonstrated leadership and dedication.     Upon graduation, Sydney felt led to stay at Colorado Christian University and became the women’s basketball graduate assistant in the fall of 2023. In 2024, Priddy took over as the Assistant Coach for the Cougars, and she is in the midst of her second year in the role. She knew CCU was the place for her as she loves what the school stands for and the boldness of faith demonstrated.    She currently resides in Highlands Ranch with her husband, Riley. They enjoy fishing, coffee, and being outside together.    Her favorite Bible verse states, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you.” -Deuteronomy 31:6     

Awards Under Coach Olson RMAC Honorable Mention, Victoria Perez, 2024-25 RMAC Honorable Mention, Dasiya Jones, 2024-25 RMAC Honorable Mention, Nicole Bowlin, 2024-25 Olson joined the CCU Women's Basketball as a Graduate Assistant before the 2024-25 season. Bree brings a wealth of knowledge to the team, having played basketball from a young age and competing for most of her life.  Olson had a long journey in college basketball, battling through injuries to play 6 years that included stints at CCU from 2017-2018, Pima Community College 2018-2019 and University of Hawaii Hilo 2019-2023. She also played a year of basketball in France to gain more experience. Olson has coached middle school teams and done private coaching as well, displaying a wide range of experience.  A native of Tucson, Arizona, Bree attended Pusch Ridge Christian Academy in high school before coming to Colorado Christian.  A passion for the game has always been an attribute of Olsons' saying "I think what I love most about basketball is that it’s always there – through the good and bad. It’s my “happy place” and can get me out of a funk. Having experience with many coaches good and bad, I want to give the athletes I work with the best possible experience and make sure they keep their love for the game."  Olson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology and Administration of Justice. Her favorite bible verse is Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".