Jonesboro, AR — March 20, 2025 — Destinee Rogers, head coach of the Arkansas State women’s basketball team, has officially signed a contract extension that secures her position until March 31, 2029. This announcement comes on the heels of an historic season, where Rogers successfully guided the Red Wolves to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.
Speaking on the achievement, Arkansas State Athletic Director Jeff Purinton highlighted the exceptional growth of the program under Rogers’ leadership. “Behind the strength of Coach Rogers’ leadership, our women’s basketball team has put together a historic season this year,” Purinton stated, excited about the upcoming challenges. “The growth of our program under Coach Rogers is evident as we get set to begin play in our first-ever NCAA Tournament this weekend.”
This season has been nothing short of remarkable for the Red Wolves. With a record of 21-10, the team has tied for the seventh most wins in program history and claimed its first Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship—finishing the regular season with an impressive 15-3 record in league play.
Rogers, who took charge of the Red Wolves in 2022 as the eighth head coach in the program’s history, has achieved notable success in her tenure. Despite facing adversity, with only three returning players from the previous season, her leadership has propelled the team from a projected last-place finish in the preseason polls to being ranked within the top tiers of their conference.
“It’s a great honor to be the head women’s basketball coach at Arkansas State University,” Rogers said during the press conference. “I’m grateful to God to have the opportunity to work with my outstanding staff and coach these amazing players and people every day.” She noted her pride in the team's commitment to excellence and their representation of both the university and the community.
In terms of individual accolades, Rogers coached players Zyion Shannon and Crislyn Rose to All-Sun Belt selections this year. This marks the first time since 2015-16 that A-State has celebrated multiple all-conference picks. Rogers expressed her gratitude towards the players, emphasizing their dedication and the hard work they exhibited throughout the season.
The Red Wolves’ success this season culminated in them earning a No. 15 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where they will face the No. 2 seed UConn Huskies this Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 1 p.m. ET at Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Connecticut. This matchup has garnered attention, as the Huskies are significant favorites, with odds favoring them by 45.5 points.
The upcoming game is poised to be a historic moment for Arkansas State, marking its first-ever NCAA Tournament game broadcast on the ABC network. Speaking about the game, Chancellor Dr. Todd Shields praised Rogers' achievements, saying, “Coach Rogers has done an amazing job as our head women’s basketball coach, leading our program to heights that have never been achieved before.” He added that Rogers not only emphasizes competitive excellence on the court but also instills a culture of professionalism and integrity in the program.
Coming into this contest, the Red Wolves are aware of the challenges they face against the formidable UConn team, which boasts a season record of 31-3. Analysts predict UConn is likely to dominate the game, with expectations that they will score around 86 points, overpowering Arkansas State with a predicted score of 86 to 52.
However, some analysts are ardently backing Arkansas State to cover the massive spread. One betting preview suggested that while UConn has performed excellently this season and has showcased their talent by defeating opponents with large margins, Arkansas State has remained competitive against its own competition, having had their largest defeat by a mere 16 points against the Arkansas Razorbacks.
As the team heads into this monumental game, school representatives including Dr. Todd Shields and ASU System President Dr. Brendan Kelly have expressed their full confidence in Rogers and the program’s future. Kelly commented, “We have faith in Coach Rogers’ leadership, particularly in the way she leads the program with optimism and enthusiasm. It shows in the results of this remarkable season.”
With various uncertainties surrounding the upcoming game, all eyes are on Rogers and her squad as they prepare not just for their first NCAA Tournament game, but also to potentially redefine expectations for future seasons — all while continuing to raise the profile of Arkansas State women’s basketball.
