Dawn Plitzuweit is set to begin her fifth season as the head coach of the Grand Valley State women's basketball team. Plitzuweit is the fifth head coach in the 35-year history of the program. Plitzuweit has guided Grand Valley State toa96-31(.756) record in her four years, including a 54-18 (.750) GLIAC mark.

Last season, Plitzuweit led Grand Valley State to its first-ever NCAA Division II National Championship title, as they defeated American International, 58-52, in the championship game. She guided GVSU to a school-best 33 wins, breaking the 2005-06 season's record of 28 wins. Plitzuweit also guided Grand Valley State to the school's second-ever GLIAC Tournament and Great Lakes Region Tournament titles. The Lakers set a school record with their 22-game win streak. The streak breaks the 16 straight wins that started off the 1997-98 season.

Plitzuweit's Lakers ranked among the nation's leaders in several team catagories. GVSU finished the season with a 91.7 winning percentage (33-3), which ranked sixth in the nation. Grand Valley State also ranked seventh in scoring defense (53.9), 11th in scoring margin (18.2), 12th in rebounding margin (8.1) and 20th in field goal percentage (44.9%).

Plitzuweit was named the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan's (BCAM) Women's College Coach of the Year and the 2006 Molten/Women's Division II Bulletin Coach of the Year. Plitzuweit was also selected as a trials court coach for the USA Basketball's 2006 FIBA Americas U20 Championship For Women Team Trials. She joined Loyola University (La.) head coach DoBee Plaisance and Georgia Perimeter College head coach James Waldon on the staff. The coaching staff selections were made by the USA Basketball Women's Collegiate Committee, which is chaired by Sue Donohoe, the NCAA's vice president of Division I women's basketball.

Plitzuweit guided senior forward Niki Reams, who earned Kodak/WBCA All-American, Daktronics, Inc. First-Team All-American, Daktronics, Inc. Great Lakes Region Player of the Year, Great Lakes Region All-Tournament Team MVP, Daktronics, Inc. Great Lakes Region First Team, GLIAC Tournament MVP, GLIAC Player of the Year, All-GLIAC North First Team, and GLIAC North All-Defensive Team the past two seasons. Reams became the first GLIAC women's basketball player to earn consecutive Player of the Year awards since her current coach, GVSU skipper Dawn (Zarling) Plitzuweit, received the same accolades following the 1994 and 1995 seasons.

Junior center Julia Braseth was named the 2006 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship Most Outstanding Player. All of Plitzuweit's starting five in 2005-06 earned postseason plaudits for their performance during the season.

Dawn has tallied a 17-3 (.850) postseason record and is 9-2 (.818) in NCAA Tournament action.

In 2004-05, Dawn led the Lakers to the school's second most wins, compiling a 28-6 (.824) record. Plitzuweit led GVSU to the NCAA tournament, including the school's first-ever Elite Eight appearance. She also guided Grand Valley State to a GLIAC Tournament title and its first-ever Great Lakes Region Tournament title. Dawn was named the 2005 Russell Athletic/WBCA National Coach of the Year.

In 2004-05, the Laker defense ranked ninth in the nation, holding opponents to just 54.4 points per game. GVSU's 46.2 field goal percentage ranked 13th and 18.9 point scoring margin was 10th. The Lakers 7.2 rebounding margin ranked 22nd the nation and their 35.6 three-point field goal percentage was 28th in Division II.

Dawn led her first team to a 24-6 record. The Lakers went 13-5 in GLIAC action and advanced to the GLIAC Tournament title game. In addition, Grand Valley State advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2002-03 for the first time in four years. Julie Zeeff was a First-Team All-GLIAC pick, while Laurie Rehmann earned Second-Team All-GLIAC honors and All-Defensive Team plaudits.

Plitzuweit arrived at GVSU after a four-year stint as the top assistant and chief recruiter for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB) women's basketball program. In addition, Dawn was responsible for the development of the team's post players and guards as well as team academics. During Plitzuweit's four years at UWGB, the Phoenix won four regular season Horizon League Championships, three conference tournament titles and made three trips to the NCAA Division I Tournament. Wisconsin-Green Bay compiled an overall record of 86-35, including a 50-7 Horizon League record during her tenure as an assistant. As well as the Phoenix played on the court during Plitzuweit's tenure, they were also able to get the job done in the classroom, evidenced by recording the highest cumulative grade point average among all DI women's basketball programs during the 2000-01 season. UWGB notched the second-best GPA following the 1999-00 campaign.

Prior to her coaching stint at Wisconsin-Green Bay, Plitzuweit spent one year as an assistant at the University of Wisconsin and two years as an assistant at Michigan Tech. While at Wisconsin, Plitzuweit and the Badgers compiled a record of 21-10 and received an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament. Michigan Tech was 39-20 in Plitzuweit's two years as an assistant coach with one trip to the NCAA Tournament. Including her playing career, Plitzuweit's teams have advanced to the NCAA Tournament nine times in 11 years.

Before embarking on her coaching career, Plitzuweit turned in a spectacular athletic and academic career at Michigan Tech. A four-year starter (1990-95), she led the Huskies to a 100-21 overall record on the hardwood, including three GLIAC titles and four appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Plitzuweit averaged 11.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.8 steals, and 3.7 assists per game in her career and in the process was named GLIAC Player of the Year following her junior and senior seasons. In addition, she gained All-GLIAC First-Team honors three straight years and was a three-time member of the GLIAC All-Defensive Team. Plitzuweit (then Zarling) ended her career as MTU's all-time leader in rebounds (866), assists (439), and steals (331), while ranking second in points (1,398) and games played (121). A 1994-95 Division II Bulletin Second team All-America selection, Plitzuweit was also a two-time Kodak All-America Honorable Mention selection (1994 & 1995). Dawn earned WBCA All-Academic honors in 1993 and 1994 and was the featured speaker at her college graduation. In addition, she was the NCAA Women of the Year in Michigan in 1995.

A native of West Bend, Wis., Plitzuweit, and her husband, Jay, have a seven-year-old son, A.J. and a three year-old daughter Lexi.