SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Summit League has announced the attendees for its annual basketball media day on October 6 at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
The media-only event brings all 16 head coaches and 32 student-athletes together to celebrate the beginning of basketball season through unique local activations, creative content, and media availability.
There will be two live shows throughout the day. Rob Dauster and Alex Heinert will be back covering the men’s side for The Field of 68 starting at 9 a.m., on X and YouTube. The eight women's programs will be live with Missy Heidrick, Ana Bellinghausen and Avarie Howard with Hurrdat Sports beginning at 9:30 a.m., on X, YouTube and Midco Sports Plus.
Media availability will begin Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. For media information, please contact Andy Thurston at thurston@thesummitleague.org.
You can follow along all season on X at @TheSummitLeague and @SummitHoops, on Instagram at @thesummitleague and @SummitLeagueHoops and on The Summit League Facebook page.
2026 Summit League Media Day Attendees
Kansas City
Men’s Basketball: Mark Turgeon (Head Coach), Jaylen Smith, Sebastian Hartmann
Women’s Basketball: Candi Whitaker (Head Coach), Elauni Bennett, Emani Bennett
North Dakota
Men’s Basketball: Paul Sather (Head Coach), Josh Jones, Zach Kraft
Women’s Basketball: Dennis Hutter (Head Coach), Sydney Piekny, London Harris
North Dakota State
Men’s Basketball: David Richman (Head Coach), Andy Stefonowicz, Kaden Tate
Women’s Basketball: Jory Collins (Head Coach), Avery Koenen, Abby Krzewinski
Omaha
Men’s Basketball: Chris Crutchfield (Head Coach), Grant Stubblefield, Isaac Ondekane
Women’s Basketball: Jamie Carey (Head Coach), Mya Skoff, Cora Olsen
Oral Roberts
Men’s Basketball: Kory Barnett (Head Coach), Connor Dow, Luke Gray
Women’s Basketball: Cophie Anderson (Head Coach), Gentry Baldwin, Kayten Donley
South Dakota
Men’s Basketball: Eric Peterson (Head Coach), Cade Kelderman, Josiah Dotzler Women’s Basketball: Carrie Eighmey (Head Coach), Molly Joyce, Latazia Williamson
South Dakota State
Men’s Basketball: Bryan Petersen (Head Coach), Joe Sayler, Jesse Van Kalsbeek
Women’s Basketball: Aaron Johnston (Head Coach), Emilee Fox, Katie Vasecka
St. Thomas
Men’s Basketball: Johnny Tauer (Head Coach), Carter Bjerke, Austin Herro
Women’s Basketball: Mandy Pearson (Head Coach), Alyssa Sand, Mikayla Werner
About The Summit League
Headquartered in Sioux Falls, S.D., The Summit League is embarking on its 45th year at the NCAA Division I level and offers 18 championship sports. The League’s eight institutions have a combined enrollment of nearly 100,000 and include four located in top-60 U.S. metropolitan areas and two land-grant universities. Full-time member institutions are the University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of North Dakota, North Dakota State University, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Oral Roberts University, University of St. Thomas, University of South Dakota, and South Dakota State University.
