Bill Fennelly’s dream has come true. He’s back in Iowa and he’s the new head coach of the Iowa State women’s basketball team.

ISU President Martin Jischke and Athletic Director Gene Smith announced the hiring of Fennelly at a press conference yesterday.

“It was a fortunate search because we found a great leader,” Smith said. “One that is a good coach, a good teacher, a good recruiter, a motivator of young people.”

The athletic department had been searching for a head coach since Theresa Becker announced her resignation last May.

“This is a very exciting day for Iowa State University and its women’s basketball program. I’m absolutely delighted that Bill Fennelly has accepted our offer to serve as head coach for the Cyclone women’s basketball team,” Jischke said. “Bill is the perfect person to take over the Cyclone program at this time.”

Fennelly said he has worked his entire life to get to ISU.

“I know it would seem cliche nowadays to talk about dreams and aspirations. For 20 years I’ve been a women’s basketball coach, and for 20 years I’ve dreamed of coming to this school to coach, to hopefully finish my career and to build something in this state and for this university,” Fennelly said. “It is a dream come true for me and my family.”

Fennelly, a Davenport native, coached at the University of Toledo for seven years before accepting this position. At Toledo, he compiled a 166-53 record, one of the top 15 in the nation during that span. He also led the team to three Mid-American Conference titles while earning a berth to the NCAA Tournament three times and the NIT three times, placing second, third and fifth.

Jischke was more impressed with Fennelly’s academic leadership than his record.

“As impressive as those athletic accomplishments are, the most exciting, the most remarkable thing about his leadership at the University of Toledo is the graduation rate of his players. The University of Toledo women’s basketball players have a 97.4 percent graduation rate,” Jischke said. “I have never seen a graduation rate over that period of time so high. What a remarkable accomplishment it is.”

Fennelly is already thinking about the future. Rebuilding the program and recruiting are the top priorities for Fennelly and Katie Abrahamson, his assistant coach, he said. Abrahamson joined the Cyclone staff last year under Becker, and Fennelly hired her on his staff.

“Our job here is to build a program the university will be proud of, the city and the state,” Fennelly said. “We’re getting ready to go back on the road Wednesday to try and recruit some student-athletes to come here.”

Smith had some last words of wisdom for Cyclone fans everywhere. “I want to share one last thing . . . he’s a winner. Bill Fennelly is a winner, beyond a shadow of a doubt.”