Howard Payne women's basketball coach Chris Kielsmeier announced today that he will be leaving Howard Payne to take the head women's basketball coaching position at Division II Wayne State in Wayne, Neb.

After leading the Lady Jackets to the Division III national championship, a perfect season at 33-0, and five consecutive seasons with 20 or more wins Chris Kielsmeier looks to face a new challenge at Wayne State. Kielsmeier will take over a Wayne State program that went 22-10 last season and reached the NCAA Division II regional semifinals. Howard Payne will conduct a national search for his replacement.

"It was a decision to get closer to home and to take another step my in professional career," Kielsmeier, an Iowa native, said. "It wasn't an easy decision in any way. It still isn't and it won't be for some time. You go to college and after that, to me, you're just always trying to push yourself in your professional career. For nine years I did that here. I feel it's the next step in my career, but the biggest thing is its closer to home. It's four hours from my house, where my family lives."

Kielsmeier finished his eighth year as head coach at Howard Payne as the winningest women's basketball coach in HPU history, with a record of 179-44.

Last year it was Amherst and DePauw bringing home Walnut and Bronze on their first trip to the Division III basketball championship game. This year, it was Wash U and Howard Payne.

For each program, however, the firsts extend beyond the basketball title. For Wash U, it was the first national championship in any men's sport, while Howard Payne won the first national title in the history of the American Southwest Conference.

Wash U rode an incredible weekend from Troy Ruths to the title, including a 90-68 win against Amherst in the national championship game. More men's coverage includes our title game photo gallery and final bracket.

Howard Payne rolled twice in Holland, including a 68-54 win against Messiah for the title. More women's coverage includes our title game photo gallery and final bracket.

Ruths and Howard Payne's Meia Daniels were named the D3hoops.com Players of the Year. We spoke to both on our final Hoopsville broadcast of the season.

Division III basketball recently made news outside of Division III: The movement to form a Division IV was dealt a huge blow when the NCAA discontinued the attempt, citing survey responses from Division III schools that reflected an overwhelming lack of interest. And when Winona State won the Division II men's basketball title, it was a feather in Division III's cap as well. Winona lost just one game all season, to Division III St. Thomas.