After spending four seasons playing professionally overseas and a year coaching at the NCAA Division I level, Brooke LeMar returns to North Dakota as an assistant coach for the University of Mary women’s basketball team, joining the Marauders program in August 2020.
LeMar twice earned all-conference honors at NCAA Division I North Dakota State University and was a two-time team captain for the Bison. Following a professional career that included stops in Denmark, Germany, Australia, and Sweden, LeMar began her collegiate coaching career last season at California Baptist University as the Director of Player Development for the Lancers, a member of the Western Athletic Conference.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Brooke to our university and basketball program,” said University of Mary Head Women’s Basketball Coach Rick Neumann. “She has great ‘street cred’ as a decorated athlete in the NCAA Division I Summit League and as a multi-year successful career as a professional basketball player. When I first reached out to Brooke about our opening, I knew she was the perfect candidate. Her enthusiasm for all aspects of the job as well as her desire to return to North Dakota were very evident. She “Zoomed” with our players and before the meeting was over I had players texting me saying ‘hire her immediately’.
“Brooke will lean on her extensive experience to coach our perimeter players as well as direct our overall Player Development Program. Her understanding and knowledge of the European style of basketball will enhance what we already do on the offensive side of the floor. In addition, she will be active in all aspects of our program and ultimately assume the role of Recruiting Coordinator. I can’t wait for Marauders boosters and fans to meet and welcome Brooke to UMary.”
“I am extremely grateful to Coach Neumann for giving me this opportunity to be his assistant coach,” said LeMar. “It’s an honor to be back in the state of North Dakota and to be a part of the Marauders family. I can’t wait to get to work on the court with this talented group of student-athletes we have here!”
As the Director of Player Development at California Baptist for the 2019-20 season, LeMar met with student-athletes weekly to monitor academic success, managed team film, attended practices, games and meetings, organized community service projects, and managed administrative needs.
LeMar joined the CBU staff after spending the last four years as a professional basketball player overseas. During her professional career LeMar played in Australia, Germany and Sweden from September 2015 to March 2019. While in Germany, she coached the U14 Girls TV 48ers for one season, where LeMar planned and prepared practices and guided athletes in training sessions.
As a professional, LeMar played for SISU Copenhagen (Denmark), the ChemCats Chemnitz (Germany), Wetterbygden Sparks Jönköping (Sweden), USC RipCity Sunshine Coast (Australia), BasCats Heidelberg (Germany), and Kia Baskets Schwabach (Germany). Named the 2019 All-German 2 Bundesliga Guard of the Year and selected to the 2019 All-German 2 Bundesliga South 1st team, LeMar was a two-time recipient of the Eurobasket Germany 2 DBBL Player of the Week award (Feb. 12 & 26, 2019).
A McDonald’s All-American nominee as a prep player in California, LeMar tipped off her collegiate career at NCAA Division I Southern Illinois University. She was a 2011-12 team captain for the Salukis as a sophomore and played 60 games in two seasons for SIU before transferring to North Dakota State for her final two seasons. LeMar was chosen the 2013-14 Summit League Newcomer of the Year and claimed a spot on The Summit League All-Newcomer Team and the All-Summit League second team in her first season at NDSU after averaging 15.1 points, 5.3 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game. LeMar, a two-time team captain for the Bison, capped her career by earning First Team All-Summit League honors as a senior (2014-2015) after finishing second in the league in scoring (19.5 ppg) and assists (4.5 apg) while grabbing 3.7 rebounds/game.
A native of Santa Clarita, CA, LeMar was selected to The Summit League Winter/Spring Academic Honor Roll and The Summit League Commissioner's List of Academic Excellence in 2013-14 and graduated from North Dakota State in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management.
WHAT COACHES ARE SAYING ABOUT BROOKE LEMAR
“I am excited for Brooke and the opportunity she has to bring her experience, love, and passion for the game back to the state of North Dakota and specifically the University of Mary. I think it’s a great fit for both her and the Marauders.” – Tom Goehle, current University of Nebraska women’s basketball assistant coach, coached Brooke LeMar as an assistant at North Dakota State University
“Brooke has a great future ahead of her and I know UMary is getting someone who will put everything they have into the team. I think she will have an immediate impact with the players both on and off the court.” – Jarrod Olson, California Baptist University head women’s basketball coach
