MORGANTOWN — Prior to her introduction in becoming West Virginia’s sixth women’s basketball coach at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dawn Plitzuweit wasted little time in filling out her coaching staff.
Plitzuweit named Jason Jeschke as associate head coach, and Aaron Horn and Ariel Braker as assistants on Monday.
All three served under Plitzuweit at South Dakota last season, in which the Coyotes advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.
“I am absolutely elated to have our staff of coaches joining me on this incredible journey at West Virginia University,” Plitzuweit said. “I have worked closely with Jason, Aaron and Ariel, and our staff has great synergy together.
Jeschke has coached at South Dakota since 2017, and Horn worked under Plitzuweit during her entire head coaching career with the Coyotes.
“They are tireless workers and are committed to growing our players into the best version of themselves on the court and in life,” Plitzuweit said. “They are great at developing relationships and excellent at skill development on the court. Our players, recruits and fans will really enjoy getting to know these individuals and their families.”
Jeschke helped guide South Dakota to three regular-season championships, three conference tournament championships and four NCAA tournament berths.
Jeschke came to South Dakota after spending three seasons as the head coach at Oklahoma Wesleyan University.
A native of Dallas, Jeschke graduated from Southwestern College (Kan.) with a bachelor’s degree in sport management in 2009.
“My family and I are honored and extremely excited to join Coach P in Morgantown,” Jeschke said. “Having worked with Dawn for the past five seasons, I know her to be a great tactician, but an even better developer of young ladies, both on and off the court. I am absolutely pumped to continue working alongside Coach P and can’t wait for West Virginia to get to know her and the rest of our staff.”
Horn spent the previous six seasons at South Dakota after spending three years at Ursuline College in Ohio.
“I am so humbled to now call Morgantown home,” Horn said. “West Virginia women’s basketball is a storied program that has had a lot of success, and I am excited to continue the winning tradition.”
Horn earned his bachelor’s of business administration from Toledo in 2012.
Braker was both an assistant and recruiting coordinator last season at South Dakota.
Braker’s coaching career also includes stops at Oakland (2019-21), Lehigh (2017-19), Western Texas (2016-17), Grosse Point North (high school) and Wayne State in Michigan.
A native of Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich., Braker graduated from Notre Dame in 2014 with a bachelor of arts in industrial design. She earned her master’s degree in sports administration from Wayne State in 2015.
“I am super grateful for the opportunity to continue my coaching journey with Coach P,” Braker said. “I have learned so many valuable lessons, not only as a coach but as a person, under her leadership in the past year. I can’t wait to get to Morgantown and build a relationship with the community and the players.”
