Episode #19- Donna Finnie, Head Women's Basketball Coach, Houston Baptist University (NCAA Division I), Houston, TX

Donna Finnie was named the fifth head coach in Houston Baptist University program history on April 17, 2013, making history in the process as she became the first international ever to land a head coaching position in NCAA Division I basketball. Finnie came to HBU after spending 10 seasons as a national team coach in Scotland. She started as an assistant coach for Arthur McGuire and then was promoted to head coach when McGuire retired. She was the head coach from 2003-2010 for the U18 national team and also had a stint coaching the U16 national team. Finnie became the first head coach at any level to win two consecutive FIBA Tournaments in 2005 and 2006 and the first Scottish female to win any FIBA level tournament. Following those wins, she then led the national team into three FIBA European B Division Championships. In her 10 years coaching national teams, Finnie coached in over 20 different countries including several trips to the US where she would bring her team to play in exposure events/team camps. She also helped her players look at scholarship opportunities in the US and has helped 10 former players attain scholarships at the DI and DII level. This success on an international-level has translated over to the United States with her Houston Baptist University team. She took over Houston Baptist in 2013 and become the all-time winningest coach in the program’s Division I history. She has also led Houston Baptist to the most single-season (15) and Southland Conference wins (9) in program Division I history. Coach Finnie can be reached at [email protected].