Pittsburg State University head women's basketball coach Amanda Davied announced today on May 30, 2024, the hiring of Kelby Fritz as an assistant coach on the Gorilla women's basketball staff. The 2025-26 season will be her second campaign working with the Gorillas.
In year one at Pitt State, Fritz helped the Gorillas to a 33-4 overall, 18-1 MIAA record, claiming the MIAA Regular Season, MIAA Tournament and Central Region titles on their way to a NCAA Division II Final Four finish. Helped mentor one All-American, two All-Region selections and four All-MIAA performers during the 2024-25 season.
Fritz comes to Pitt State after serving the past year as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Indiana State University. She joined the Sycamore coaching staff after spending the previous six seasons on the sidelines at Missouri Southern State University as an assistant coach.
"Kelby's experience in the league, regional relationships with recruiting, personality, and work ethic, really made this a no brainer," Davied said. "She is very familiar with Pittsburg State, our program and style of play already, and I'm looking forward to working alongside her. I think our players, recruits, and fans will enjoy her fun-loving personality and genuine joy for relationships. I know she'll work hard, be loyal, and be dedicated to what's best for our program."
During her time at MSSU, the Lions reached unprecedented heights in program history, making back-to-back NCAA Division II National Tournament appearances and reaching the regional final in 2023. MSSU compiled a 53-14 record during her final two seasons as the Lions won an MIAA regular season and tournament title in that span.
Overall, MSSU went 97-81 with Fritz on the sidelines, with the Lions' 29 wins in the 2022-23 season setting a program record for single-season wins. The Lions won their first MIAA regular season title in program history in the 2021-22 season and their first MIAA Tournament title since 1996 in 2023. MSSU's back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2022 and 2023 with Fritz on the sidelines marked the first time since 1993 and 1994 that the Lions made consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.
Prior to her time at MSSU, Fritz spent one season at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, helping lead the Lady Norse to a National Junior College (NJCAA) Division 1 Region 2 and District B title that season. The 29-3 Lady Norse reached the second round of the NJCAA National Tournament and finished the season 16th in the nation in points per game (80.1) and seventh in 3-point field goals per contest (8.7). While at NEO, Fritz was responsible for game preparation, scouting, game day duties, recruiting, strength and conditioning and all aspects of team travel for the Lady Norse.
Fritz began her coaching career as a graduate assistant at Hastings College, reaching a pair of NAIA Tournaments with the Broncos. Hastings reached the national semifinals of the NAIA Tournament in 2015, going 25-9 in Fritz's first season on the bench. The Broncos were 19-12 in her second season and made the NAIA Tournament as an at-large tea.
A multi-sport athlete at the collegiate level, Fritz began her playing career at Missouri Southern, where she averaged 10 points per game over a three-year span (2009-12). She continued her playing career at Rogers State University, where she shot 41 percent from the field, 42 percent from behind the arc and 85 percent from the charity stripe. Rogers State reached the second round of the NAIA Tournament in her lone season as a Hillcat. In addition to her talents on the hardwood, Fritz also played one season of softball at Rogers State.
Fritz earned her bachelor's of science degree in sports management with a minor in psychology in May 2013 from Rogers State University and received her master's of arts degree in teaching at Hastings College in May 2016.
