Susan Blauser Position: Assistant Coach Alma Mater: Illinois '00

The University of Dayton welcomed Susan Blauser as an assistant coach on May 11, 2006. Blauser joined Jim Jabir's staff at UD from Akron where she served as an assistant for two seasons.

"Susan has a great personality," Jabir said. "She is outgoing and very hard working. Susan brings a lot of energy and she is a good fit for our program."

While at UA, Blauser coordinated travel and team equipment while directing the Zips' community service activities. She also helped to recruit the first ever Street & Smith All-American to play at Akron.

Blauser went to Akron from Boston University where she spent the 2003-04 season as an assistant coach. In addition to working with the post players, she served as the Terriers' recruiting coordinator and facilitated preseason conditioning and individual workouts.

"I am excited to join a great program at Dayton," Blauser said. "UD has made great progress over the past few years and I am excited to continue that trend. It is also great step for me personally and I look forward to working with a great staff here at UD."

From 2001-03 she was a graduate assistant at Division II Clarion (Pa.) University where she earned a master's degree in rehabilitative sciences. Blauser created the "Eagles' Nest" youth fan club and was named the 2003 Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Graduate Assistant of the Year. She was also instrumental in the development of All-America honoree Heather Cigich while at Clarion.

A 2000 graduate of the University of Illinois, Blauser was first-team All-Big Ten and Illinois team MVP as a junior in 1999, leading the team in scoring at 17.1 points per game and was a nominee for the Naismith Player of the Year. A preseason All-America pick her senior season, she went on to earn second-team All-Big Ten accolades and was named to the WBCA Top 15 Senior All-Star Game after averaging 14.5 ppg and 7.9 rebounds per contest. The Fighting Illini (23-11) spent most of the 1999-00 season ranked in the top 10 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Blauser played her freshman and sophomore seasons at Rutgers where she was named to the Big East All-Rookie team in 1996 and the Rutgers Most Valuable Player in 1997. She was named the Scarlet Knights' Most Courageous Player both years on the roster and was a team captain as a sophomore.