The K-State women’s basketball team and staff said goodbye to assistant coach Jacie Hoyt and senior guard Kindred Wesemann in May 2017.
Hoyt announced May 10 that she would be leaving K-State to become the next women’s basketball coach for University of Missouri-Kansas City. Wesemann announced June 1 that she would leaving as well for the position of assistant coach under Hoyt at UMKC.
As Hoyt and Wesemann step into the next chapters of their careers, they leave a legacy behind for the K-State women’s basketball team as they anticipate their upcoming season together.
Jacie Hoyt, a native of Hoxie, Kansas, came to K-State with a talent for coaching. In two seasons with the Wildcats, Hoyt was a key factor in being able to recruit 30 consecutive signing classes.
Hoyt became known for her hard work, receiving the 2017 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association 30 Under 30 Honoree award. As part of the coaching staff, she helped bring the basketball team to the NCAA tournament for back-to-back seasons.
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Kindred Wesemann, a native of Pleasant Hill, Missouri, began her K-State career in 2013. In four years, Wesemann received numerous awards and placed 18th in the school’s history for career points at 1,295, and 10th in school history for career assists at 329.
On top of that, Wesemann was on the Academic All Big 12 First Team from 2015 to 2017, and won the Final Four three-point shooting contest in 2017. For Wesemann’s senior year, she started in all 34 season games and clocked in 1,150 minutes played. Wesemann graduated in May 2017 with a degree in kinesiology.
On May 10, Hoyt was officially named the head coach of UMKC by Carla Wilson, director of athletics. Hoyt is the 10th women’s basketball coach in UMKC’s history.
“[Being hired as head coach] was very overwhelming,” Hoyt said. “I’ve wanted to be a division one head coach for as long as I can remember. It was very special and exciting, but it also conflicted with my love for K-State basketball. It was a lot of conflicting emotions all at the same time for both me and my family.”
On June 1, Wesemann was officially announced to be joining Hoyt’s coaching staff as an assistant coach. Wesemann was thrilled to become a coach right out of college.
“It was a surprise, honestly. I didn’t even know [Hoyt] was being offered the job at all,” Wesemann said. “I was very honored that she would even think of me.”
Wesemann was excited to return back home to Missouri so she could start her new life, not only as a coach, but a family member.
“[Being back in Kansas City] is awesome, it really couldn’t have worked out any better. I get to start my life and build a house with my fiancé,” Wesemann said.
As Hoyt and Wesemann look into the future, they are excited to be on the same team together and look forward to what’s ahead.
“[Wesemann] and I are extremely close; she made it clear she would be great as a coach,” Hoyt said. “I saw her as someone that would understand my temperament and vision. She understands success and failure, and she’s someone I know would be loyal to me and my dream.”
Wesemann also showed eagerness to continue working side-by-side with Hoyt.
“[Hoyt] is a great mentor. I had to ask her all the time to help me if I was struggling,” Wesemann said. “She’s a great person, and will be a great coach.”
Jeff Mittie, head coach of K-State women’s basketball, made it clear that he planned to keep an eye on Hoyt and Wesemann as they begin building a team and history together at UMKC.
“I look forward to seeing them progress in their programs, and I will follow their teams,” Mittie said. “I felt like [Hoyt] was ready to run her own program, she was intrigued to get out there. [Wesemann] has always been a coach for us on the floor, and I think she will do great in that position.”
As the season gets closer, Hoyt has set goals for herself and her team, but not goals that will be seen on paper.
“My biggest goal is to have a family culture and establish a mentality,” Hoyt said. “Within the team, we will work hard, we will be competitive, we will play to the best potential.”
Wesemann had goals for herself as an assistant coach that would also not be shown on paper.
“My biggest goal is bringing energy and having workout that will increase each player’s ability to be the best they can be,” Wesemann said.
From a young age, Hoyt learned from her mother, Shelly Hoyt. Shelly Hoyt is a legendary high school basketball coach in the state of Kansas and is most known for leading Hoxie High School to a state record of 107 consecutive wins, as well as four state titles. She is now the head coach at Eureka High School.
“I would thank my mom; she taught me everything I know,” Hoyt said. “I would also thank the K-State administration, staff and my old team that taught me about the family mentality.”
Wesemann also showed her appreciation for those who have helped her get to where she is now.
“[I want to thank] my family, Gary Brown, my AAU (Amateur Athletics Union) coach, every coach along the way, Coach Mittie and his staff, Jacie Hoyt and Carla Wilson,” Wesemann said. “I have no experience and [Wilson] took a chance on me. At this point, I’m kind of a shot in the dark. Chris Carr gave me a lot of memories that I’m able to use, and Coach Mittie came to know me so well as a player and as a person. I will take my hard work that goes into athletics, and everything I have learned from those people.”
