Michelle Filander

Michelle Filander

  • Title:
    Head Women's Basketball Coach/Senior Woman Administrator/Asst. Athletic Director for Student Welfare/NCAA Diversity and Inclusion Designee
  • Phone:
    903.813.2404
  • Email:
    mfilander@austincollege.edu

Michelle Filander enters her 13th season as the coach of the Kangaroos in the 2022-23 season. Filander has coached the 'Roos to two SCAC regular season championships, as well as a top 25 ranking on D3Hoops.com during the 2018-19 season. In 2019-20, she coached the 'Roos to the SCAC Conference Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. She also became the program's all-time wins leader during the 2020-21 campaign. The 'Roos have also regularly been regionally ranked over the past several seasons with Filander at the helm. Filander came to Sherman after having served as an assistant at Washington & Jefferson College.

Filander first served as an assistant at Washington & Jefferson from 2004-2007 before taking over the role of wellness coach at the Charlotte County YMCA of North Port, Florida. Filander returned to W&J for the 2009-2010 season. The Presidents made three trips to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament with Filander on the sideline including a first round appearance this past year when W&J went 23-5. Overall, Filander helped coach the Presidents to an 86-26 record in her four years. Prior to her time at Washington & Jefferson, Filander served as an assistant coach at Bethany College and helped guide the team to an overall record of 61-22. Between her stints at Washington & Jefferson and Bethany, Filander helped coach those two teams to three Presidents’ Athletic Conference championships.

Filander, who began her playing career at NCAA Division I Robert Morris University, received her degree from Ohio Wesleyan University in 2001 and later earned her Master’s degree in Athletic Coaching Education from West Virginia University in 2004. While serving as a student assistant at Ohio Wesleyan in 2001, Filander helped lead the team to the NCAA Division III Final Four.

Along with her playing and coaching experience, Filander has given guest lectures on stress management and psychology of injury while at Bethany and also organized a study in sport psychology. During her time at Washington & Jefferson, she coordinated the team’s strength and conditioning program and was an integral part of the program’s recruiting process.