SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Evangel University Director of Athletics Chuck Hepola announced Monday the hiring of Madi Wallace (‘18) as the ninth women’s basketball head coach in program history.
“As an alumni and former standout member of our women’s basketball team I am excited to bring Madi back to Evangel,” said Hepola. “Her energy and passion for Evangel is very evident. I am excited to welcome her home and for her to continue the tradition of Evangel women’s basketball.”
“If you would have told me after graduating from EU in 2018 that I would be the head coach someday, I’m not sure I would have believed it,” Wallace said. “I’m truly honored to have been chosen to lead this team, and I look forward to serving the same community that once served me. Valor Up!”
Getting her start as a collegiate head coach in 2022, Wallace took over a second-year program at Mission University. Wallace turned an 8-win team into a 19-win team in her second season finishing sixth at the NCCAA National Tournament.
During the 2024-25 season, she led the Patriots to a 25-7 record and an 18-4 mark in the program’s first season in the AMC finishing third. Mission advanced to the AMC Quarterfinals falling to tournament Champion Columbia College, however, the Patriots earned a national runner-up finish in the NCCAA National Tournament.
After graduation, Wallace was an assistant coach at Springfield Central High before working at her alma mater Ash Grove High School.
She began her playing career at Avila University before transferring to Evangel from 2015 to 2018, she was an NAIA Scholar-Athlete and led EU in three-point shooting as a junior before an injury during her senior season cut her time short.
As a prep standout at Ash Grove, she led the Lady Pirates to a Final Four appearance in 2014 and was a two-time MBCA Class 3 all-state selection and four-time all-district player.
Wallace graduated from Evangel in 2018 with a degree in communication studies and earned her master’s degree in organizational leadership from Drury University in 2020. Wallace and her husband, Ben, live in Ash Grove.
For media availability contact sports information director, Issac Granado at [email protected].