Illinois State University Women's Basketball

Scott Gillespie enters his fourth season as Illinois State's Associate head coach in 2025-2026 and his ninth season overall with the Redbirds.  Illinois State earned a fifth-straight postseason appearance and a third straight 20-win season in 2024-25, advancing to the WNIT Fab 4. Illinois State posted a 24-13 record and a 14-6 mark in MVC play, earning the program's fourth WNIT bid over the last four seasons.  The Redbirds posted an historic 2024-25 campaign on the offensive end of the floor. Illinois State ranked fourth in NCAA Division I and led the MVC with a 48.8 percent team field goal percentage, a mark that ranks third in program history. The Redbirds also ranked fourth in NCAA DI shooting 38.5 percent from behind the arc, leading the Valley and ranking third in program history. The Redbirds set a program record with 252 total three pointers. Illinois State ranked 32nd in NCAA DI averaging 76.0 points per game and scored a mark of 2,812 total points during the 2024-25 campaign that set a program record and ranks fourth in MVC history.  Four Redbirds earned MVC honors during the 2024-25 campaign, highlighted by Shannon Dowell's selection to the All-MVC Second team. Elyce Knudsen and Addison Martin landed on the All-MVC Newcomer team while Doneelah Washington earned All-MVC Freshman team honors. Knudsen and Martin combined for eight MVC Newcomer of the Week honors, including's Knudsen's league-leading five selections. Washington earned three MVC Freshman of the Week selections. Gillespie has helped Illinois State to five postseason appearances in his tenure with the program, including a 2022 bid to the NCAA Tournament that marked the program's first NCAA trip in 14 seasons. In his first season as Associate Head coach, Gillespie helped Illinois State to the 2023-2024 MVC Regular Season title, the program's first since 2010.   The Redbirds earned their fourth-straight postseason appearance and second-straight 20-win season in 2023-2024. Illinois State finished with a 22-12 overall record and 13-7 mark in MVC play while earning a WNIT bid for the third time in the last four seasons. The Redbirds advanced in the post season for the first time since 2013 with a Second-Round WNIT win over Charleston at CEFCU Arena, where the Redbirds hosted postseason basketball for the first time since 2013. He guided guard Paige Robinson to an historic campaign in her lone season with the Redbirds in 2022-2023 as she earned Jackie Stiles MVC Player of the Year honors and became the first WNBA draft pick in program history with her third round selection by the Dallas Wings. Robinson, also the MVC Newcomer of the Year after transferring from Division II Drury, finished third in the league in points per game, averaging 18.3 per contest in 2022-23 and notched the fourth most single season points for a Redbird with 584 points over her 32 appearances as a Redbird.  "Scott is a true student of the game and has one of the best young coaching minds in the country," head coach Kristen Gillespie said at the time of his hire. "I'm extremely excited he is making the transition over from the men's game. His knack for recruiting and skill development will pay huge dividends for us. His passion for the game is contagious." A WBCA 30 Under 30 award winner, Gillespie coached three seasons at IUPUI prior to his arrival in Normal, where the Jaguars increased their win total each season under head coach Jason Gardner, the former All-American and 2003 Naismith Player of the Year at Arizona. Before heading to Indianapolis, Gillespie spent two seasons as a graduate manager at Memphis under head coach Josh Pastner, and Gardner, who was an assistant coach at Memphis and Pastner's teammate at Arizona. While pursuing his Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, the Tigers went 55-15 and made back-to-back NCAA Tournaments. Gillespie was a standout player at Division III Ripon (Wis.) College, where he was the program's all-time leader in points (1,871) and assists (602). He was officially inducted into the Ripon College Athletics Hall of Fame in the first year he was eligible in July 2021. Gillespie's points record has recently been surpassed and he ranks second all-time in Ripon history. He was a four-time All-Midwest Conference selection, including earning MWC Player of the Year and All-America honors in 2011. Gillespie was a two-time All-Midwest Region selection and three-time Academic All-MWC pick. He earned his degree in communications/business management in 2011.  Gillespie, who is a younger cousin of Kristen, played for his father, Bob, throughout his collegiate career after starring at nearby Ripon High School. His father is a member of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and totaled more than 500 wins during his head coaching career. He also served as Ripon's Athletics Director and baseball coach during his distinguished career. The younger Gillespie opted to play for his father despite numerous Division I offers after finishing as Ripon High School's all-time leading scorer.  After graduation, Gillespie originally began a career in sales in the Chicago-area before opting to return to school and begin pursuing coaching in December 2012.

Drew Cole enters his fourth season with the Redbirds in 2025-2026. Cole oversees post development for the Redbirds, where he has guided four Illinois State players to MVC honors during his tenure.  Addison Martin landed on the All-MVC Newcomer team while Doneelah Washington earned All-MVC Freshman team honors under Cole's leadership during the 2024-25 campaign. Martin led the MVC in field goal percentage in Valley play, shooting 58.7% from the field against MVC foes. She shot 58.3% from the floor during the overall campaign, which ranks third in program history. Martin was a three-time MVC Newcomer of the Week selection last season for Illinois State.  Washington landed on the All-MVC Freshman team and earned three MVC Freshman of the Week honors as a rookie in 2024-25. She tallied 34 blocks, which tied for 10th among all DI freshmen and ranked second in program history for a Redbird freshman. It was the most blocks by a Redbird freshman since 1987. Washington had 25 blocks in MVC play, which led all freshmen in the league and ranked fifth among all Valley players. She grabbed a mark of 152 total rebounds, a mark that is tied for fifth in program history for a freshman. Washington is the first freshman in program history to post 30+ blocks and 150+ rebounds in their freshman campaign.  DeAnna Wilson climbed to 7th in program history in career scoring (1,545 points) and 2nd in program history in career rebounding (867 rebounds) during her two years under Cole's tutelage. She was an All-MVC Second Team selection in 2023 and 2024 and earned three MVC Player of the Week honors during the 2023-2024 campaign. Wilson graduated as Illinois State's all-time leader with 314 career offensive rebounds and is one of two players in program history, along with Women's basketball Hall of Famer Cathy Boswell, to score 1,500 career points and grab 800 career rebounds.  Meanwhile Kate Bullman climbed to second in program history with 191 career blocks. She capped off her collegiate career with career-best marks of 7.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 blocks per game under Cole's leadership. Bullman totaled a career-high 68 blocks, leading Illinois State and ranking second in the MVC. She led Illinois State in the block category for the fourth-straight season, while her 68 blocks rank fourth on Illinois State's single-season blocks list. Bullman is the first player in program history to tally 50+ blocks in three consecutive seasons. Illinois State earned a fifth-straight postseason appearance and a third straight 20-win season in 2024-25, advancing to the WNIT Fab 4. Illinois State posted a 24-13 record and a 14-6 mark in MVC play, earning the program's fourth WNIT bid over the last four seasons.  The Redbirds posted an historic 2024-25 campaign on the offensive end of the floor. Illinois State ranked fourth in NCAA Division I and led the MVC with a 48.8 percent team field goal percentage, a mark that ranks third in program history. The Redbirds also ranked fourth in NCAA DI shooting 38.5 percent from behind the arc, leading the Valley and ranking third in program history. The Redbirds set a program record with 252 total three pointers. Illinois State ranked 32nd in NCAA DI averaging 76.0 points per game and scored a mark of 2,812 total points during the 2024-25 campaign that set a program record and ranks fourth in MVC history.  The Redbirds earned their fourth-straight postseason appearance and second-straight 20-win season in 2023-2024. Illinois State finished with a 22-12 overall record and 13-7 mark in MVC play while earning a WNIT bid for the third time in the last four seasons. The Redbirds advanced in the post season for the first time since 2013 with a Second-Round WNIT win over Charleston at CEFCU Arena, where the Redbirds hosted postseason basketball for the first time since 2013. In his first season with the Redbirds, he helped Illinois State to 24 wins, including 17 in MVC play, and an MVC Regular Season championship for the first time since 2010.  Cole joined the Redbirds after a four-year stint at Abilene Christian. In his role with the Wildcats, Cole assisted with post development and was also heavily involved with scouting and recruiting. Cole also coordinated team travel facilities usage as well as being the academic liaison. A 2020 WBCA 30 Under 30 honoree, Cole played an integral role in helping the Wildcats win the school's first-ever Southland Conference Tournament Championship to earn a trip to the NCAA Division I Tournament where they took on eventual 2019 National Champion Baylor in Waco, Texas. Prior to his time at Abilene Christian, Cole served as a graduate assistant with Austin Peay women's basketball for the 2016-17 season before being promoted to the Director of Basketball Operations position for the 2017-18 season. As Director of Basketball Operations for the Governors, Cole was responsible for planning, recruiting and travel. Additionally, he managed the student-athlete's daily calendars and supervised the team's film exchange and breakdown. A 2016 graduate of Aurora (Ill.) University, Cole began his coaching career as a student assistant for the Spartans women's basketball program. During his time with Aurora, he was a part of a staff that helped the program reach the conference championship for the first time in 14 seasons.

Former Redbird Katrina Beck enters her fourth season as an Assistant Coach for her alma mater Illinois State in 2025-2026. Illinois State earned a fifth-straight postseason appearance and a third straight 20-win season in 2024-25, advancing to the WNIT Fab 4. Illinois State posted a 24-13 record and a 14-6 mark in MVC play, earning the program's fourth WNIT bid over the last four seasons.  The Redbirds posted an historic 2024-25 campaign on the offensive end of the floor. Illinois State ranked fourth in NCAA Division I and led the MVC with a 48.8 percent team field goal percentage, a mark that ranks third in program history. The Redbirds also ranked fourth in NCAA DI shooting 38.5 percent from behind the arc, leading the Valley and ranking third in program history. The Redbirds set a program record with 252 total three pointers. Illinois State ranked 32nd in NCAA DI averaging 76.0 points per game and scored a mark of 2,812 total points during the 2024-25 campaign that set a program record and ranks fourth in MVC history.  The Redbirds earned their fourth-straight postseason appearance and second-straight 20-win season in 2023-2024. Illinois State finished with a 22-12 overall record and 13-7 mark in MVC play while earning a WNIT bid for the third time in the last four seasons. The Redbirds advanced in the post season for the first time since 2013 with a Second-Round WNIT win over Charleston at CEFCU Arena, where the Redbirds hosted postseason basketball for the first time since 2013. Beck helped guide guard Paige Robinson to an historic campaign during Paige Robinson's lone season with the Redbirds in 2022-2023 as she earned Jackie Stiles MVC Player of the Year honors and became the first WNBA draft pick in program history with her third round selection by the Dallas Wings. Robinson, also the MVC Newcomer of the Year after transferring from Division II Drury, finished third in the league in points per game, averaging 18.3 per contest in 2022-23 and notched the fourth most single season points for a Redbird with 584 points over her 32 appearances as a Redbird.  She joined the Redbirds after spending one season at Lindenwood University, returning to Normal following a four-year letterwinner career for the Redbirds from 2015-2019. With the Lions, Beck was responsible for planning and executing player development for combo guards through on court training and film sessions. In addition to scouting opponents, recruiting and practice preparation, Beck also coordinated team travel, managed gear and equipment needs and organized housing and orientation for student-athletes among multiple other day-to-day tasks. Before landing her first full-time coaching position at Lindenwood, Beck spent two years as a graduate assistant for the Illinois Wesleyan women's basketball program across town. Beck assisted with day-to-day operations for the team, coordinating team schedules, editing film, recruiting and organizing practice plans. While on the Titans' staff, Beck reached the conference postseason tournament twice and made one appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. A four-year letterwinner, starter and team captain for Illinois State, Beck played for a pair of seasons under Kristen Gillespie in her first two seasons at the helm of the program. She finished her career fifth all-time in career starts and notched 200 assists and 357 rebounds over her four seasons in a Redbird uniform. Beck graduated from Illinois State with a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism in 2019 and earned her master's degree in sport management from Illinois State in 2021. Beck and fellow Redbird Assistant Coach Mannie Robinson have a one-year-old boy, Tatum, born in December of 2023. 

Jordan Alford enters her third season at Illinois State in 2025-2026, after a successful first two years on staff with the Redbirds.  Illinois State earned a fifth-straight postseason appearance and a third straight 20-win season in 2024-25, advancing to the WNIT Fab 4. Illinois State posted a 24-13 record and a 14-6 mark in MVC play, earning the program's fourth WNIT bid over the last four seasons.  The Redbirds posted an historic 2024-25 campaign on the offensive end of the floor. Illinois State ranked fourth in NCAA Division I and led the MVC with a 48.8 percent team field goal percentage, a mark that ranks third in program history. The Redbirds also ranked fourth in NCAA DI shooting 38.5 percent from behind the arc, leading the Valley and ranking third in program history. The Redbirds set a program record with 252 total three pointers. Illinois State ranked 32nd in NCAA DI averaging 76.0 points per game and scored a mark of 2,812 total points during the 2024-25 campaign that set a program record and ranks fourth in MVC history.  Four Redbirds earned MVC honors during the 2024-25 campaign, highlighted by Shannon Dowell's selection to the All-MVC Second team. Elyce Knudsen and Addison Martin landed on the All-MVC Newcomer team while Doneelah Washington earned All-MVC Freshman team honors. Knudsen and Martin combined for eight MVC Newcomer of the Week honors, including's Knudsen's league-leading five selections. Washington earned three MVC Freshman of the Week selections. The Redbirds earned their fourth-straight postseason appearance and second-straight 20-win season in 2023-2024. Illinois State finished with a 22-12 overall record and 13-7 mark in MVC play while earning a WNIT bid for the third time in the last four seasons. The Redbirds advanced in the post season for the first time since 2013 with a Second-Round WNIT win over Charleston at CEFCU Arena, where the Redbirds hosted postseason basketball for the first time since 2013. Alford joined the Redbirds after three seasons at Valley foe Southern Illinois. In her role with the Salukis, Alford held the duties of Video Coordinator and Director of Basketball External Operations. Prior to her time at Southern Illinois, Alford spent time at Columbia College, a NAIA program in Columbia, Mo., where she graduated in 2020 with a bachelor's degree in sports management and business administration. The Thayer, Mo. native started 109 of 111 games during her four seasons and led the Cougars to the NAIA National Tournament in each of her three full seasons. A three-time All-American honoree, Alford left the program ranked in the top-10 in career three-pointers made (4th; 225), career assists (5th; 374), career steals (8th; 200) and career points (9th; 1,330).  Alford was a prep standout at Thayer High School, where she was named to both the MBCA and AP All-State teams and helped the Bobcats to a 63-37 overall varsity record. Alford completed her graduate work at SIU in May 2022 with a degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in sports studies. 

Mannie Robinson enters his third season on staff at Illinois State in 2025-2026.  Illinois State earned a fifth-straight postseason appearance and a third straight 20-win season in 2024-25, advancing to the WNIT Fab 4. Illinois State posted a 24-13 record and a 14-6 mark in MVC play, earning the program's fourth WNIT bid over the last four seasons.  The Redbirds posted an historic 2024-25 campaign on the offensive end of the floor. Illinois State ranked fourth in NCAA Division I and led the MVC with a 48.8 percent team field goal percentage, a mark that ranks third in program history. The Redbirds also ranked fourth in NCAA DI shooting 38.5 percent from behind the arc, leading the Valley and ranking third in program history. The Redbirds set a program record with 252 total three pointers. Illinois State ranked 32nd in NCAA DI averaging 76.0 points per game and scored a mark of 2,812 total points during the 2024-25 campaign that set a program record and ranks fourth in MVC history.  The Redbirds earned their fourth-straight postseason appearance and second-straight 20-win season in 2023-2024. Illinois State finished with a 22-12 overall record and 13-7 mark in MVC play while earning a WNIT bid for the third time in the last four seasons. The Redbirds advanced in the post season for the first time since 2013 with a Second-Round WNIT win over Charleston at CEFCU Arena, where the Redbirds hosted postseason basketball for the first time since 2013. Robinson joined Redbird women's basketball as an Assistant Coach in May of 2023 after spending one season as Assistant Coach at the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy (UHSP) in St. Louis where he helped the program reach a postseason conference berth. At UHSP, Robinson played a vital role in player development, recruiting, advanced analytics and game scouting. Under his direction, the Eutectics produced one All-Conference, Champions of character, and conference assist leader. A highly touted baseball pitcher and basketball player out of Chicago, Robinson helped lead Morgan Park High School to two back-to-back IHSA state championships. From there, he accepted a basketball scholarship to play for Lincoln College where he became a JUCO All-American before transferring to Western Illinois University. After a short stint at Western Illinois, Robinson transferred to Talladega College and led his team to a NAIA National tournament berth. Robinson graduated with a Bachelor's degree in biology medical sciences in 2019 before moving on to play semi-pro for the Illinois Vipers. After his playing days, he then began coaching at Rich Central High School in, Olympia Fields, IL as a player development coach. After coaching at Rich Central, Robinson then became an assistant coach for East St. Louis High School where he helped lead them to a 28-6 overall record and undefeated conference record (11-0). Robinson and fellow Redbird Assistant Coach Katrina Beck have a one-year-old boy, Tatum, born in December of 2023.