Creston, IA—Southwestern Community College announced today Darien Wingate will be the next head coach for Spartan women’s basketball.
Wingate is filling the vacancy created with the late-July resignation of Bryan Austin, who had led the Southwestern women’s basketball program since 2018. The Spartan athletic department moved fast to fill the position to ensure the stability of women’s basketball at Southwestern.
Wingate comes to Creston from Motlow State Community College in Tullahoma, Tennessee, where he spent last season as an assistant coach for the women’s basketball program. At Motlow State, Wingate led the strengthening and conditioning program, individual player development workouts, and student-athlete academic well-being; while assisting the head coach with recruiting, scouting, and program administration.
Prior to coaching at Motlow State, Wingate served as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Penn State Wilkes-Barre University in Dallas, Pennsylvania. During five seasons, Wingate was able to assist with 95 wins, including a conference record of 62-24. He helped produce six All-Americans, two Newcomers of the Year, seven all-conference team selections, a defensive player of the year, and a USCAA National Tournament MVP.
Wingate said he hopes to bring knowledge and experience to the Spartan basketball program, combined with excitement and a hard-working approach.
“At the college level, it is crucial to provide a healthy, balanced environment for student-athletes to thrive and develop as they move on to the next stage of their lives,” stated Wingate. “Accountability, empathy, integrity, and hard work are key elements to a successful team, in my eyes. These are the qualities that will be instilled in every individual member of the program. This will allow us to come together as a whole and reach the goals we set for ourselves.”
Kim Bishop, Southwestern athletic director, said everything really fell in place with the hire of Wingate. She can’t wait to see him directing the women’s basketball program.
“Darien instantly impressed the hiring committee with his excitement for Spartan basketball and his desire to lead the program,” said Bishop. “He is early in his coaching career, but he already has the support of many of his peers and that was obvious the minute we started reaching out to his contacts.”
Wingate, who began his coaching career in 2015, played for Keystone College in La Plume, Pennsylvania, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a minor in criminal justice.
He will begin recruiting for the Spartan women’s basketball program immediately.