RAPID CITY, S.D. --- South Dakota School of Mines women's basketball head coach Jeri Jacobson is pleased to announce the addition of Mike Sybrant to the coaching staff for the 2019-20 campaign.

"I would like to thank Coach Jacobson and South Dakota School of Mines for the opportunity to join their staff Sybrant said. " I'm so excited to join the Hardrocker women's basketball program and join an institution that values academics as well as developing a great atmosphere for student athletes."

Sybrant comes from Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado where he was the assistant coach of the Plainswomen for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.  Sybrant helped lead the program to a 14-14 record in his first year. During the 2017-18 season, the Plainswomen team were named the No. 4 team in the nation by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association in the Junior College Division having a 3.39 team GPA.  The Plainswomen also had six NJCAA Academic All-Americans.  In 2018-19 helped lead the Plainswomen to a 22-7 record.

"Coach Sybrant is a great addition to the Hardrocker Family and I'm excited for him to be joining us," Jacobson said. "He brings a relentless work ethic and has coached under one of my biggest mentors—so he shares the same foundational values and philosophy of a family first culture.

Sybrant's first stint at Northeastern was from 2003 to 2006.  During that three years, Mike helped lead the Plainswomen to a 54-44 record.  Coach helped move on eleven players to the next level of college basketball.  Three players moved on to Division I, seven players to Division II, and one player to NAIA. 

In 2015-16, Mike was an assistant coach at Upper Iowa University located in Fayette, Iowa.  Sybrant served as recruiting coordinator, coordinated film break down, and was in charge of travel plans.  During the 2015-16 season, the Upper Iowa basketball team was named the #1 team in the nation by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association in Division II having the highest team grade point average of all teams. 

Coach Sybrant worked at West Holt Public Schools in Atkinson, Nebraska from 2011-2015.  While at West Holt, Sybrant was the Assistant Athletic Director, taught 7-12 Physical Education, and was the Head Girls Basketball Coach.  Before going to West Holt, Mike worked at District OR1 Schools in Palmyra, Nebraska teaching 4^th grade and was the assistant girls' basketball coach. 

In 2003, Sybrant was the Graduate Assistant Coach for the Men's Basketball program at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Sybrant helped lead the Lopers to a 30-3 record winning the North Central Region title and advancing to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. 

Mike also worked at Dodge Public Schools in Dodge, Nebraska and Ansley Public Schools in Ansley, Nebraska.  Coach Sybrant graduated from Broken Bow High School in Broken Bow, Nebraska in 1991.  He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary and Physical Education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 1996.  Coach Sybrant received his Master's Degree in Physical Education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in 2003.

"Coach Sybrant understands the importance of academics, the entire student-athlete experience, and developing leaders and strong young women for life after basketball. With his knowledge of the region he will be a great recruiter for bringing more scholar-athletes to South Dakota School of Mines," Jacobson added.