Longtime Division I Head Coach Susie Gardner joins the Evansville women's basketball coaching staff as an assistant coach ahead of the 2026-27 season, carrying over 30 years of collegiate coaching experience and a proven track record of success.
Gardner most recently served as an Assistant Coach at Florida, where she helped the Gators to the WBIT semifinals in 2024-25. From 2010-24, Gardner served as the Head Coach at Mercer University, where she led the Bears to five SoCon regular season titles, four appearances in the NCAA Tournament, and was named SoCon Coach of the Year four times. During her time in Macon, Gardner posted a 247-189 record, including an 88-27 record in SoCon play, and produced six conference Players of the Year. Under Gardner’s tutelage, Kahli Lawrence was selected in the second round of the 2018 WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx. Gardner is the winningest coach in Mercer history.
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From 2003-07, Gardner served as the Head Coach at the University of Arkansas, where she posted a record of 65-54 and led the Razorbacks to a WNIT appearance in 2005. In 2004, Shameka Christon was named SEC Player of the Year and was taken fifth overall in the 2004 WNBA Draft by the New York Liberty, and in 2005, Sarah Pfeifer was named SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Prior to her time in Arkansas, Garnder was the Head Coach at Austin Peay State University from 1997-2003, where led the Lady Govs to three NCAA Tournament appearances and was named OVC Coach of the Year in 2003. In 2003, Garnder coached Brooke Armistead to OVC Player of the Year honors and a third round selection in the WNBA Draft by the San Antonio Silver Stars. With a record of 112-93, Gardner is the winningest coach in Austin Peay history.
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From 1992-97, Garnder was an assistant coach at San Diego State, where she helped the Aztecs to an 89-28 record and three NCAA Tournament Appearances. As a player, Gardner was a standout at the University of Georgia from 1982-86, helping the Bulldogs to four NCAA Tournament appearances, three SEC regular season and tournament tiles, and two appearances in the Final Four.
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