STEVENS POINT - UW-Stevens Point head women's basketball coach Shirley Egner has announced the of hiring Diane Hawkins as the program's new assistant coach. Hawkins, a former player for Coach Egner from 2001-05, was a member of the 2002 Women's Basketball National Championship team.

Hawkins replaces former UW-Stevens Point assistant coach Megan Wilson, a teammate of Hawkins, who left the University in May.

“Coach Hawkins is very enthusiastic and determined to bring significant attributes to our basketball team” said Coach Egner. “Diane's knowledge of our program and her previous coaching experience as an assistant in the state of Wisconsin will allow us to continue competing at a high level in the WIAC.”

Coach Hawkins joins the Pointers staff after spending the last two seasons as the Graduate Assistant Coach at Edgewood College in Madison. In her two seasons with the Eagles, the team finished 36-18 overall, 27-8 in the Northern Athletics Conference, advancing to the league's championship game in 2008.

Prior to coaching at Edgewood, Coach Hawkins served as a Student Assistant with the Pointers during the 2005-06 season and then served as the Director of New Program Development at the Green County Family YMCA in Monroe, Wis. She has also been a camp counselor at the Hoosier School of Basketball since 2002.

Coach Hawkins received a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion and Wellness with a Minor in Coaching in 2006 from UW-Stevens Point. Hawkins was a 2004 recipient of the UW-Stevens Point Leadership Award, a 2005 recipient of the Pointer Leadership Award for women's basketball and the 2006 UWSP Chancellor Senior Leadership Award.

Hawkins is originally from Monroe, Wis. where she was a two time All-Badger Conference selection. She received her Master in Education degree from Edgewood College in May of 2009.