Bryant Friskop Named Head Women’s Basketball Coach at NDSCS

08-26-2024

North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Bryant Friskop as the new Head Women's Basketball Coach. Friskop, a Wahpeton native, brings a wealth of experience and success from his previous roles at the University of Minnesota Crookston (as Assistant Basketball Coach/Head Women's Golf Coach) and the University of North Dakota (as a Student Manager).

Friskop enters this position after an impressive tenure as the assistant women's basketball coach at University of Minnesota Crookston, where he was instrumental in leading the Golden Eagles to three NSIC/Sanford Health Quarterfinal appearances and a school-record 18 wins during the 2015-16 season. Under his guidance, the team also saw eight players earn All-NSIC honors, including four First Team selections.

In addition to his basketball coaching expertise, Friskop has a distinguished background in coaching women's golf, having led the Golden Eagles to multiple low rounds and improving team averages consistently over his seven seasons as head coach. Friskop also coached the first-ever all-conference selection in Crookston's history (Anaka Lysne from Wahpeton).

Friskop's appointment comes as the NDSCS Women's Basketball program continues to build on the strong legacy left by former Head Coach Park Masterson. Masterson led the Wildcats to multiple championships and a national tournament appearance, setting a high standard for the program. The Wildcat community is excited to welcome Friskop as he aims to continue and expand upon this success.

NDSCS President Rod Flanigan expressed his enthusiasm about the new appointment, saying, "We are so excited to have Coach Friskop on our team. His enthusiasm for student success both in the classroom and on the court is contagious. As a Wahpeton native, and having spent many, many days during his youth playing basketball at the BAC, he has fond memories of NDSCS. He is a great fit for NDSCS and for our athletics program. I have no doubt that Bryant will take our women's basketball program to new heights."

Bryant Friskop shared his excitement about joining the Wildcats, stating, "It's an honor to be named the next Women's Head Basketball Coach here at NDSCS. I would like to thank Dr. Flanigan and the entire search committee for believing in me and offering this opportunity. To come home and have the chance to be a leader in my hometown has always been a goal of mine. I'm thrilled, and proud, to help lead NDSCS Athletics."

Friskop's local high school career included being named 1st Team All-State and the 2009 EDC Senior Athlete of the Year. Friskop was part of the team that won the EDC Conference Tournament that same year.

Friskop earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from the University of North Dakota and later received his Master of Science degree in Kinesiology from the same institution. His deep roots in Wahpeton, combined with his extensive coaching experience, position him as an ideal leader for the NDSCS Women's Basketball program.

Gach Named Interim Men's Basketball Coach for 2024-2025 Season

Interim Coach Gach Gach will lead the men's basketball team this season. Gach was named Interim Head Coach on June 24, 2024, following the departure of Stu Engen, who took a position joining the coaching staff at Idaho State University. As NDSCS continues its search to replace Engen as Athletic Director, Gach will remain a stable presence leading the Men's Basketball Program.

A 2017 graduate of NDSCS, Gach Gach (pronounced GOTCH GOTCH) brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success. During his time as a player for the Wildcats, Gach was instrumental in leading the team to a remarkable 59-9 overall record, securing two Mon-Dak Conference Championships, two Region XIII Championships, a District Championship, and a National Tournament appearance. Gach's individual contributions were recognized with numerous Conference and Regional honors.

Following his tenure at NDSCS, Gach transferred to West Texas A&M where he continued to excel, helping his team to a 66-8 record and leading them to back-to-back Elite Eight and Final Four appearances. His stellar performance earned him Lone Star Conference honors. Over his four-year college career, Gach amassed an outstanding overall record of 125-17.

An Austin, Minnesota native, Gach earned his bachelor's degree from West Texas A&M University and returned to NDSCS in 2022 as an Assistant Men's Basketball Coach.

For more information about NDSCS athletics, please visit NDSCSwildcats.com.