Coenen Steps Down from Woodbine Girls' Basketball

Coenen Steps Down from Woodbine Girls' Basketball –

(5-11-26) – Woodbine Coach Ryan Coenen is stepping away from the Tiger girls’ basketball program.

In a late night press release Sunday, Coenen says he’s resigning at from the program after 15 seasons, “because I believe it is in the best interest of my family and our school.”

Over his coaching career, Coenen accumulated 158 wins for the Lady Tigers, but his best stretch was the four season prior to last season, when his team won 72 games and reached the Girls' State Basketball Tournament in 2023.

Coenen, who says he will continue to be a part of the Tigers Track & Field and Football programs, says this decision will allow him to spend more time with his family.”

Coenen's full letter is available below:

After fifteen seasons as the head girls basketball coach at Woodbine, I have decided to resign from coaching girls basketball for the upcoming 2026-2027 season.
This was not an easy decision. I have loved coaching basketball at Woodbine and helping young ladies grow and develop through our program. Lady Tiger Basketball has been a major part of my life and my family’s life, and I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to have led the program.

When we took over heading into the 2011-2012 season, the program had won 17 games in the previous ten seasons. Through the work of a special group of girls committed to changing how people viewed Lady Tiger Basketball, the program grew into a consistent competitor in the Rolling Valley Conference. Over fifteen seasons, we finished with 155 wins, six consecutive 10-plus win seasons, two regional final appearances, the program’s first State Tournament appearance in 49 years, and a 23-3 season.

I am stepping away because I believe it is in the best interest of my family and our school. This will allow me to spend more time with my family, focus more energy on continuing to build our Track & Field program into a consistent State contender with Coach Bartels, and assist Coach Crook in his championship football program.

I believe this is a healthy time for someone else to take over the girls basketball program. There is proven upperclassmen leadership returning and a talented group of freshmen who have already gained quality varsity experience. We are handing off the baton, and I am excited to watch the program continue to grow as my three daughters continue to play Lady Tiger Basketball.

I want to thank every player who chose to be part of our program, every assistant coach who served alongside me, our managers, our bookkeepers, our families, our administration, and the Woodbine community for their support over the past fifteen seasons. Most importantly, I want to thank my wife, Stephany, and our children — Adalynn, Ayden, Avery, Andrew, Annalee, and Alyssa — for the time, support, and sacrifice they gave to Lady Tiger Basketball.

Go Hard. Go Fast. Go BIG.
~HFB Always

Ryan Coenen

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