The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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42 THE WOLVERINE ❱ DECEMBER 2023 BY ANTHONY BROOME M ichigan locked down head wom- en's basketball coach Kim Barnes Arico with a contract extension on Nov. 7 that will run through the 2027-28 season, securing its program's spot near the top of the Big Ten — and potentially beyond — well into the future. Barnes Arico's deal was announced in a release by athletics director Warde Manuel. Also included in the pact is an automatic one-year extension added each June. "I am delighted to know that Kim will continue to lead our student-athletes into the future with this new contract exten- sion that will keep her with us for many years to come," Manuel said. "Already our winningest head coach, Kim continues to move this program forward, from deep NCAA Tournament runs to developing our young people towards the highest level of professional basketball. I look for- ward to her continued stewardship of this great program." Barnes Arico entered the season with 240 victories, the only U-M coach ever to surpass 200 wins. She also is responsible for 10 of Michigan's 14 all-time 20-win seasons and is first in program win per- centage (.669) with a 241-119 record. The two-time Big Ten Coach of the Year (2017 and 2022) has two Sweet 16 appearances and made a trip to the Elite Eight in 2021-22. Barnes Arico has also helped U-M develop WNBA Draft picks in each of the past two seasons, with Naz Hillmon (2022) and Leigha Brown (2023) both going to the Atlanta Dream. "Working at the greatest university in the world is not something I take for granted," Barnes Arico said. "We have been able to build something really spe- cial, and the future is incredibly bright for our program. Michigan has become home for my family, and we are so grateful for the support we have received throughout the years by the university, the commu- nity and this fan base." U-M INKS BEST RECRUITING CLASS IN PROGRAM HISTORY Barnes Arico's building of the program into a national power took another huge step forward on Nov. 8 when U-M signed its 2024 recruiting class of Syla Swords, Olivia Olson, Mila Holloway, Aaiyanna Dunbar and Te'Yala Delfosse to national letters of intent. Swords and Olson are the highest- ranked signees — 11th and 15th in the class, respectively — in program history. ESPN/HoopGurlz ranks the group No. 4 in the country, making it the best recruit- ing class ever for the women's basketball program. Hailing from New Hope, Minn., Ol- son was at one point the No. 3 recruit in the 2024 class. Barnes Arico believes she packs a punch at a number of positions. The 6-foot-1 Benilde-St. Margaret's star averaged 25.6 points, 12.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game in her junior season en route to winning the Class 3A state championship. "Olivia was the first to commit in this class, and I am so glad I can finally talk about her," Barnes Arico said. "She was recruited by everyone, but she really con- nected to what our program values are all about. Liv is a flat-out game-changer. She is so dynamic and can legitimately play all five positions, which is so valuable as our game continues to evolve." Swords, a 6-foot guard from Sud- bury, Ontario, averaged 14.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game to help Long Island Lutheran to the 2023 Class AA New York State Federation Tournament of Champions title. "We always talk about finding different ways to impact the game, and I think Syla embodies that," Barnes Arico said. "It's like she is always one step ahead in figur- ing out what her team needs Both Olson and Swords are five-star prospects with international experience, having played for Team USA and Team Canada, respectively. The two figure to be stalwarts as long as they stick around in Ann Arbor. "A class like this does not happen without all of the players who have come before and laid this foundation," Barnes Arico said. "They had an incredible belief to build something that wasn't here, and they built it. They believed in what Michi- gan women's basketball could be and where we could go as a program. It's be- cause of what they accomplished, what we have built and the banners we have hung that we could sign a class who believes they can win a national championship." Holloway is a 5-10 guard from Char- lotte (N.C.) Legacy Early College whose grandfather and mother are Michigan alums. Dunbar is a 6-2 forward from Murfreesboro (Tenn.) Blackman, and Delfosse is a 6-3 forward from Ewing (N.J.) High. ❏ ❱ WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Kim Barnes Arico Inks Contract Extension Already U-M's all-time winningest women's basketball coach with a 241-119 record in her 12th season at the helm, Barnes Arico received a long-term contract extension Nov. 7. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN PHOTOGRAPHY WOLVERINES EASILY WIN OPENER Michigan opened the 2023-24 season Nov. 6 with a convincing home win against Purdue Fort Wayne. The Wolverines had four players finish in double figures. Junior Laila Phelia tied her career high with 25 points while adding 7 rebounds and 2 steals. Classmate Jordan Hobbs had 13 points, a career-best 8 rebounds and 4 assists, while senior Cameron Williams (14) and grad trans- fer Lauren Hansen (11) rounded out the dou- ble-figure scorers. Hobbs scored the first Michigan points of the year, banking in a three-pointer on U-M's second possession. U-M returns to action on Nov. 14, hosting Oakland at Crisler Center.