Jimmy Copenhaver was named the head coach of the University of St. Francis women’s basketball program before the 2026-27 season. In July of 2023, Copenhaver joined the Saints as an assistant coach, a position he held through the 2025-26 season. The 2026-27 season will mark Copenhaver’s combined fourth year with the program, and first year as head coach.
During his time as an assistant coach at USF, Copenhaver helped the Saints to an overall record of 61-31 (39-21 CCAC), while seeing the team to two NAIA National Tournament appearances (2024-25, 2025-26) after producing back-to-back 25-win seasons. Copenhaver helped develop nine CCAC All-Conference selections, one All-Freshman team honoree (Symone Harrell), as well as two 1,000-point scorers (Tykara Harrison and Le’lani Harris). Copenhaver has also seen eight Saints receive CCAC Player of the Week awards. On the academic side, the program totaled 19 CCAC All-Academic honorees and 11 NAIA Scholar Athletes.
Prior to joining the Fighting Saints staff, Copenhaver spent four seasons (2019-2023) as a varsity assistant high school girls’ varsity coach for Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, Ill. While as an assistant coach for the Celtics, Copenhaver developed scouting reports and game strategies to help guide the program to an overall record of 89-33.
From 2021-2023, Copenhaver spent three seasons as the head coach for various AAU travel basketball teams ranging from ages 14 to 18. While as a head coach for the EBA ICE, Naperville Rockets, and M14 Hoops, Copenhaver was responsible for developing training sessions, recruiting new talent, assessing the developmental progress of current players, scheduling games and practices, and management of team culture.
Copenhaver graduated Cum Laude from Valparaiso University in 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. He is registered from NCAA BBCS and is licensed with USAB.
