Jennifer Rushton begins her second season as the Thunder’s head coach. Coach Rushton guided her team to a Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) title in 2002-03 and was named WHAC Coach of the Year. The Thunder finished 12-2 in the WHAC and had an 18-13 record overall. Prior to being named head coach, Rushton served as the assistant coach from 2000-2002 and was the junior varsity coach from 1997-99.

Rushton graduated from Tri-State University in 1997 earning a bachelor’s degree in biology. She was named to the WHAC All-Conference team three times in her career and was an NAIA All-American. She was a team captain and participated on three teams that went to the NAIA National Tournament, finishing in the Sweet Sixteen two times and the Elite Eight once. Rushton became the fourth player in Women’s Basketball history to score 1,000 career points and currently ranks 5^th All-Time (1,468). In 1998, Rushton was inducted into the Tri-State University Athletic Hall of Fame.

In addition to her coaching duties, Rushton serves as the Sports Information Director, Director of the Hoosier Basketball Camp for girls and the TSU Summer Sports Camp Coordinator.

Melissa Cope has returned to the Tri-State University women’s basketball program as an assistant coach. Cope graduated in 2001 with a degree in elementary education. She was a member of the Thunder women’s basketball program from 1997-2001 and was a member of the 1999 Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference  (WHAC) Championship team. She was named to the WHAC All-Academic teams in both 2000 and 2001 and received the Shari Coons Award her senior year for the top female student-athlete.

A captain of the 2000-01 team, Cope provided tremendous leadership and was one of the Thunder’s top defenders. She finished her career at Tri-State with 194 points and 214 rebounds. “I am very excited to have Melissa back in the Thunder program,” said head coach Jennifer Rushton. “Melissa has an amazing work ethic. Her knowledge of the game and of the program will be a tremendous asset to our team.”

Cope has spent the last two years as the freshman girls’ basketball coach at Angola High School and as an assistant for the varsity team that won their first sectional title this past season. 

In addition to coaching basketball, Cope will also serve as assistant Sports Information Director.

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