Hamline University Women's Basketball

Joshua Hersch will embark on his eighth season with the Hamline University women's basketball program, and his third as head coach in 2025-26. The Pipers are coming off an exciting 2024-25 season highlighted by a 3rd place MIAC regular-season finish, a MIAC Playoff Semifinal appearance, and a program record-tying 19 overall wins. The Pipers led the MIAC in 3 pointers made, 3 point percentage, offensive rebounds, steals, and opponent 3 point percentage, and were second in opponent's points scored and opponent's field goal percentage. To cap off the stats in which Hamline earned top-five status, they were fourth in assists. Hersch also helped develop one MIAC All-Conference and one All-Conference Honorable Mention honoree.  He joined the Hamline women's basketball program as an assistant coach on April 16, 2018, and held that role for five seasons before being promoted to head coach. The Pipers accumulated a 67-43 overall record with Hersch as the top assistant coach, which included a 37-16 mark over the last two seasons. Hersch helped mold seven MIAC All-Conference selections, one D3Hoops.com All-Region honoree, one MIAC Defensive Player of the Year, two MIAC All-First Year Team accolades, and one MIAC All-Playoff Team member over his five seasons as assistant coach. The Pipers achieved a program-record 19 victories in 2021-22, and notched their highest MIAC Tournament seed ever at No. 3 in 2022-23. From 2013-2016, Hersch served as the top assistant coach for the women's basketball program at Augsburg under the late Bill McKee. He played a major role for the Auggies as they racked up the most wins in school history, including their first-ever trip to the MIAC playoffs and a first-ever MIAC playoff win. In addition to serving as the recruiting coordinator for the program, he was in charge of fundraising, alumni relations, and coordinated the team's social media outlets. He also served as the Director of Intramurals during his time at the school. Before coaching at Augsburg, Hersch was an assistant women's coach at St. Thomas from 2011-2013. The Tommies finished 31-2 during his first season, going undefeated in MIAC play and finishing third overall in the country. The program won the MIAC playoff championship and qualified for the NCAA D-III national tournament in both his seasons on staff. Hersch has been heavily involved in the AAU basketball scene since 2011, coaching for the Minnesota Stars AAU Basketball Club, one of the largest elite level clubs in the Midwest. In 2016 Hersch took over the role of Operations Director for the Stars in addition to continuing to coach multiple top-level teams that travel and compete nationally. He was named AAU Coach of the Year by Prep Girls Hoops in 2017 for his efforts. He started his coaching career as the head JV and assistant girls' varsity basketball coach at Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul in 2007. Hersch, a native of Hawley, Minnesota, has a B.S. in Physical Education from Augsburg. Hersch Year-by-Year Year School Position Overall Pct. Conf. Pct. MIAC Finish (Tournament) NCAA Postseason 2011-12 UST Asst Coach 31-2 .929 22-0 1.000 1st (Champions) Final Four (3rd Place) 2012-13 UST Asst Coach 24-6 .800 18-4 .818 2nd (Champions) Round of 16 2013-14 AUG Asst Coach 12-13 .480 9-13 .409 7th 2014-15 AUG Asst Coach 15-12 .556 9-9 .500 6th (Semifinals) 2015-16 AUG Asst Coach 14-11 .560 9-9 .500 7th 2018-19 HU Asst Coach 13-12 .520 8-10 .444 7th 2019-20 HU Asst Coach 15-11 .570 10-10 .500 5th (Quarterfinals) 2020-21 HU Asst Coach 2-4 .333 2-2 .500 Covid (No Playoffs) 2021-22 HU Asst Coach 19-7 .731 16-5 .762 4th (Semifinals) 2022-23 HU Asst Coach 18-9 .667 14-8 .636 3rd (Semifinals) 2023-24 HU Head Coach 12-13 .480 10-10 .500 6th (Quarterfinals) 2024-25 HU Head Coach 19-8 .704 13-5 .722 3rd (Semifinals) 2025-26 HU Head Coach 19-7 .731 13-5 .722 5th (Quarterfinals) TOTALS 213-115 .649 153-90 .630

Lindsey Bernardy will embark on her third season as Hamline assistant women's basketball coach in 2025-26. The Pipers are coming off an exciting 2024-25 season highlighted by a 3rd place MIAC regular-season finish, a MIAC Playoff Semifinal appearance, and a program record-tying 19 overall wins. The Pipers led the MIAC in 3 pointers made, 3 point percentage, offensive rebounds, steals, and opponent 3 point percentage, and were second in opponent's points scored and opponent's field goal percentage. To cap off the stats in which Hamline earned top-five status, they were fourth in assists. Bernardy also helped develop one MIAC All-Conference and one All-Conference Honorable Mention honoree.  Bernardy obtained her bachelor of arts degree in education and digital media arts from Hamline in 2022 and her master of arts degree in teaching from Hamline in August 2023. She was a member of the Pipers women's basketball and track & field teams over her five years as a student-athlete. She is a three-time MIAC Women's Outdoor Track & Field 4x800 Meter Relay Champion (2021, 2022, 2023), and currently holds the school record in that event with a time of 9:17.62 achieved at the 2022 conference meet. Bernardy is a four-time MIAC Academic All-Conference honoree in track & field, and a three-time recipient in basketball. She was named to the 2023 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Track & Field Team.

Mike Gray is a 1981 graduate of Hamline University who joined the women's basketball staff before the 2018-19 season. During his undergraduate days at Hamline he was a four-year varsity player on the men's basketball team and served as captain his senior year.  After graduating summa cum laude with degrees in Math and Physics, Gray went on to a successful career in business and technology at Thomson Corporation/West Publishing, IDeaS/SAS, and SPS Commerce.  During his professional career, Gray continued his passion for basketball by serving as a coach. He has over 18 years of experience coaching both boys and girls traveling, AAU, and high school teams. During summers, Gray focused on skills development for players of all ages and capabilities.  Prior to joining the Hamline women’s basketball coaching staff, Gray was a full-time varsity girls assistant coach at Hastings High School for three years. During this time, the team won two conference championships and was runner up the third year.  Gray is also a member of Hamline’s Career Mentoring Program and is currently mentoring students in Hamline’s School of Business.

Joshua Hersch will embark on his eighth season with the Hamline University women's basketball program, and his third as head coach in 2025-26. The program is coming off an all-time record tying 19 win season in 2024-25. He joined the Hamline women's basketball program as an assistant coach on April 16, 2018, and held that role for five seasons before being promoted to head coach. The Pipers accumulated a 67-43 overall record with Hersch as the top assistant coach, which included a 37-16 mark over those last two seasons. Hersch helped mold seven MIAC All-Conference selections, one D3Hoops.com All-Region honoree, one MIAC Defensive Player of the Year, two MIAC All-First Year Team accolades, and one MIAC All-Playoff Team member over his five seasons as assistant coach. The Pipers achieved a program-record 19 victories in 2021-22, and notched their highest MIAC Tournament seed ever at No. 3 in 2022-23. From 2013-2016, Hersch served as the top assistant coach for the women's basketball program at Augsburg under the late Bill McKee. He played a major role for the Auggies as they racked up the most wins in school history, including their first-ever trip to the MIAC playoffs and a first-ever MIAC playoff win. In addition to serving as the recruiting coordinator for the program, he was in charge of fundraising, alumni relations, and coordinated the team's social media outlets. He also served as the Director of Intramurals during his time at the school. Before coaching at Augsburg, Hersch was an assistant women's coach at St. Thomas from 2011-2013. The Tommies finished 31-2 during his first season, going undefeated in MIAC play and finishing third overall in the country. The program won the MIAC playoff championship and qualified for the NCAA D-III national tournament in both his seasons on staff. Hersch has been heavily involved in the AAU basketball scene since 2011, coaching for the Minnesota Stars AAU Basketball Club, one of the largest elite level clubs in the Midwest. In 2016 Hersch took over the role of Operations Director for the Stars in addition to continuing to coach multiple top-level teams that travel and compete nationally. He was named AAU Coach of the Year by Prep Girls Hoops in 2017 for his efforts. He started his coaching career as the head JV and assistant girls' varsity basketball coach at Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul in 2007. Hersch, a native of Hawley, Minnesota, has a B.S. in Physical Education from Augsburg. Hersch Year-by-Year Year School Position Overall Pct. Conf. Pct. MIAC Finish (Tournament) NCAA Postseason 2011-12 UST Asst Coach 31-2 .929 22-0 1.000 1st (Champions) Final Four (3rd Place) 2012-13 UST Asst Coach 24-6 .800 18-4 .818 2nd (Champions) Round of 16 2013-14 AUG Asst Coach 12-13 .480 9-13 .409 7th 2014-15 AUG Asst Coach 15-12 .556 9-9 .500 6th (Semifinals) 2015-16 AUG Asst Coach 14-11 .560 9-9 .500 7th 2018-19 HU Asst Coach 13-12 .520 8-10 .444 7th 2019-20 HU Asst Coach 15-11 .570 10-10 .500 5th (Quarterfinals) 2020-21 HU Asst Coach 2-4 .333 2-2 .500 Covid (No Playoffs) 2021-22 HU Asst Coach 19-7 .731 16-5 .762 4th (Semifinals) 2022-23 HU Asst Coach 18-9 .667 14-8 .636 3rd (Semifinals) 2023-24 HU Head Coach 12-13 .480 10-10 .500 6th (Quarterfinals) 2024-25 HU Head Coach 19-8 .704 13-5 .722 3rd (Semifinals) TOTALS 194-108 .644 140-85 .622

What's your history with Hamline? I came to Hamline in August of 2021, right when we were coming back to campus after the pandemic. This is the beginning of my fourth year as the University Chaplain and Director of the Wesley Center, and while I've been teaching since I started, this is my first full year as Affiliate Faculty in the Department of Social Justice and Social Change. I came to Hamline, because the three-part job of 1) chaplain (or United Methodist pastor); 2) director of a student center focused on spirituality, service, and social justice, AND 3) professor teaching in the area of Religious Studies -- was an opportunity I could not pass up. It wrapped up all the things God has called me to do into one paying job. It felt like finally coming home. I stay at Hamline, because it didn't just feel like coming home, I really have found home. In my experience, Pipers -- students, staff, faculty, and administration -- are interested in making a difference for the better in the world and building a community of care and belonging. It is like no other university I've known. I am so grateful that my path led me here and that now I too am a Piper. Why are Extracurricular Activities and Sports in College so Important? Getting out of your dorm or staying on campus a bit longer as a commuter student is extremely important so you can begin to feel that Hamline is not just a place where you study to get a degree, but where you get to develop as a human being in ways you did not necessarily expect. Getting involved on campus is a low-stakes way to check-out things you've never tried or a chance to shine at things you are great at--either or both ways you will be getting to know fellow Pipers while at the same time having an impact on the community. While not everyone is an athlete (saying this for a friend) being in a sport in college is a fabulous way to not only find belonging in a community, but to learn discipline and time management in a supportive environment. Not only does it provide these life long benefits, but student-athletes are challenged everyday to grow and excel in ways that are just not possible through reading books, engaging in discussion, or listening to a fascinating lecture. The student-athletes who are able to integrate embodied learning through sport with the work and life of the mind are truly exceptional.  What's your Relationship with Running/Athletics? Why did you want to be a Faculty Rep :  I know it is pretty unbelievable, but I have actually trained twice for a marathon and ran the Marine Corp Marathon in 2003. Here's proof of my exceptionally terrible time -- but hey, I wasn't the 15,000th, and more importantly I finished :):   Kelly Ray (F26) 5:48:41 12807 4486 / 985 5:30:14 Washington, DC, USA I was in seminary with my friend and roommate Rachel McIver -- now Rev. Rachel McIver Morey. I decided I would run a marathon to help raise money for a project I was working on in Peru. Rachel didn't want me (a non-athlete) to die, so she decided to do it with me. We had planned to run the DC Marathon, but it was canceled due to the beginning of the War in Iraq on March 30, 2003. So we trained again -- the first time was through the DC winter and the second through the summer. It was an incredible experience, but I can tell you for sure that I will never do that again--marathons are no joke. Today, I am honored to be a faculty rep and look forward to being more present with the Men's Cross Country Team this year. I am inspired by how hard they work and I'm seriously thinking about breaking out my own sneakers again.