Former Goshen College women’s basketball standout Tyra Carver has been chosen as the eighth head women’s basketball coach in the 59-year history of the program, as announced by Director of Athletics Dr. Erica Albertin. Carver replaces her former coach, Stephanie Miller, who left to serve as the top assistant coach for Division I Bradley University after 13 seasons with the Maple Leafs.
“We are excited to welcome Coach Carver as the next women’s basketball head coach,” Albertin said. “It became clear in the process that Coach Carver stood out due to her leadership, vision and strategy to elevate GC women’s basketball. I am excited about the future of Goshen women’s basketball, the athletic department and Goshen College!”
“I am thrilled to serve as the next head coach at Goshen College,” Carver said. “It’s such a full circle moment for me from being a player to leading this team as the head coach. It is an amazing opportunity that I am ready to embark on.”
Carver is a native of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and played at Kalamazoo Central High School before attending Goshen College. At Goshen, she earned her degree in broadcasting with minors in kinesiology and coaching. Carver twice made All-Conference postseason teams and was a part of the 2015-16 team that advanced to the NAIA national semifinals. She finished her time as a Leaf in the top ten in program history in scoring, field goals made, three-point field goal percentage and free throws made. Additionally, she competed on the track & field team in the shot put, discus and hammer throw.
After graduation, Carver played for the Grand Rapids Galaxy of the semi-pro Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League. She was the assistant coach for Louisburg College in Louisburg, North Carolina, and the head coach of their junior varsity team. The varsity squad went 26-6 overall. Next, she was the assistant coach at Catawba Valley in Hickory, North Carolina. The team posted a 50-12 record during her two seasons on staff. Last season, Carver returned to the Maple City to serve as the assistant coach at Goshen under her former head coach, Stephanie Miller. Carver is one of four current GC head coaches who are Goshen College alumni, joining Brad Stoltzfus (baseball), Kyle Capps (men’s basketball) and Rustin Nyce (men’s and women’s cross country/track & field).
Carver has appreciated the sense of community at Goshen College as both a player and assistant coach. “I enjoy how everyone is involved with various aspects of campus life,” she remarked. “It’s what makes Goshen, Goshen.”
“Coach Carver was fundamental in the successes of last year’s team,” shared Albertin. “She brought academic expectations, athletic excellence and a heart for community engagement. She is all about developing student-athletes to be their best.”
Carver will officially start in the role on July 1.