The Guy Who Simply Won't Leave (And Ames Loves Him For It)
Most college coaches treat their jobs like a pit stop. They're constantly looking for the next upgrade—the bigger paycheck, the flashier recruiting budget, or the blue-blood program with more trophies in the lobby. But then there’s Bill Fennelly.
The Iowa State women’s basketball coach isn’t interested in the carousel. Honestly, he’s basically become part of the architecture in Ames. Heading into the 2025-26 season, Fennelly is entering his 31st year leading the Cyclones. Think about that for a second. In an era where "loyalty" is usually just a buzzword used in press releases before a coach jumps ship for a 20% raise, Fennelly has stayed put since 1995.
When he first showed up, Iowa State women's basketball was, to put it bluntly, a ghost town. They were playing in front of maybe 700 people on a good night. Now? They’re regularly ranking in the top ten nationally for attendance, packing Hilton Coliseum with over 10,000 fans. It’s one of the most incredible "build it from nothing" stories in the history of the sport.
What Makes the Iowa State Women's Basketball Coach Different?
If you watch a game, you’ll see him. He's loud. He’s demonstrative. His wife, Deb, even describes his style as "vocal and passionate," which is probably a nice way of saying he’s going to lose his voice by the second half.
But there’s a method to the madness.
Fennelly’s success isn't just about yelling from the sidelines; it’s about a specific kind of offensive philosophy that has turned ISU into a "Pro-Style" factory. They shoot the three. They share the ball. They develop talent that the "big" schools often overlook.
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The Family Business
One of the coolest things about the program right now is that it’s literally a family affair. His son, Billy Fennelly, serves as the Assistant Coach and General Manager. It’s not just nepotism, though—Billy has been instrumental in some of the biggest recruiting wins in program history, including landing stars like Audi Crooks and Addy Brown.
Having that continuity matters. While other programs are scrambling to rebuild their entire coaching staff every three years, Iowa State has a foundation that feels like concrete.
The 2025-26 Season: Navigating the New Big 12
Right now, the Cyclones are in the middle of a fascinating season. As of mid-January 2026, the team is sitting with a solid 14-4 record overall. However, the Big 12 is a meat grinder this year. They’ve had some tough recent slips—losses to Colorado and West Virginia—but they also have that massive 74-69 win over #11 Iowa in the Cy-Hawk series.
That’s the thing about a Bill Fennelly team: they might lack the 6'7" five-star athletes that South Carolina or LSU hoards, but they are going to execute you into the ground.
- Audi Crooks is a cheat code: The sophomore center is currently averaging 27.6 points per game. She's shooting nearly 69% from the floor. You can't guard her one-on-one; it's statistically impossible.
- The Guard Play: Between Jada Williams and Addy Brown, the ball movement is elite. They're averaging over 21 assists per game as a team, which ranks 2nd in the entire country.
- The Hilton Magic: They’ve already gone 10-2 at home this season. There is something about that arena that just rattles opposing teams.
The Contract and the "Professional Suicide" Myth
Back in 1995, a friend told Fennelly that taking the Iowa State job was "professional suicide." At the time, they weren't wrong. The program had five winning seasons in 22 years.
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Fast forward to today, and he’s signed through the 2026-27 season. Athletics Director Jamie Pollard has made it clear: as long as Bill wants to coach, the whistle is his. He’s won over 790 games in his career. He’s taken the Cyclones to the NCAA Tournament 20+ times.
What most people get wrong about the Iowa State women’s basketball coach is thinking he's just a "system" guy. He’s actually a master adapter. When the game shifted toward the three-point line, he mastered it. When the transfer portal changed everything, he used it to plug holes without losing the "Cyclone culture."
Dealing with the Ups and Downs
It hasn't always been easy. Fennelly famously battled throat cancer years ago, a scare that nearly cost him his voice and his career. He had to learn how to coach using microphones and hand signals.
That health battle changed his perspective. You can hear it when he talks now—he’s more appreciative of the "Ames way." He doesn't care about the bright lights of UConn or Tennessee. He cares about whether his players are graduating and whether the fans at Hilton feel like they’re part of the family.
Why He Still Matters in 2026
In the modern NIL era, where players move like free agents every summer, Fennelly has managed to keep a core together. Look at this current roster. It’s a mix of home-grown Iowa talent and strategic additions.
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He’s not just a coach; he’s a developer. He turned Bridget Carleton and Ashley Joens into WNBA-level talents. Now, he’s doing the same with Audi Crooks.
People always ask: "When is he going to retire?"
Honestly? Probably not anytime soon. He’s mentioned before that he loves coming to work every day. As long as the Cyclones are competitive and the fans keep showing up, Bill Fennelly is going to be the guy on the sideline, probably losing his voice, and definitely winning games.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're following the Cyclones this year, keep an eye on these specific trends:
- Watch the Assist-to-Turnover Ratio: If ISU stays above 1.5, they are almost unbeatable.
- Double-Teams on Crooks: Pay attention to how Fennelly adjusts when teams triple-team Audi. The kick-out to Addy Brown or Arianna Jackson for the three is the "dagger" play for this offense.
- The February Stretch: The schedule gets brutal with trips to Utah and BYU. How the staff manages player fatigue will determine their seeding in the Big 12 tournament.
The legacy of the Iowa State women's basketball coach is already secure, but he's clearly not done adding chapters to the book. Whether you're a lifelong Cyclone fan or just a casual observer of the women's game, you have to respect the house that Bill built.