Eastern Michigan Athletics
Nusseibeh Tabs Selana Ickes Assistant Coach
5/27/2026 11:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Ickes is the winningest head coach in Malone University history
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University Head Women's Basketball Coach Sahar Nusseibeh announced the hiring of Selana Ickes as an assistant coach Wednesday, May 27.
Ickes joins the Eagles after previously serving as the head women's basketball coach at Malone University since 2018. She leaves Malone as the winningest coach in program history after compiling an impressive 143-87 record, including three 20+ win seasons, seven winning seasons, and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
"Our program is thrilled to welcome Selana and her family to Ypsilanti," said Nusseibeh. "Selana is a proven winner who understands what it takes to be successful. She brings knowledge and experience, as well as a passion that will show in her coaching. Selana's values align perfectly with Eastern women's basketball. Our program has elevated with the addition of this worker, winner, and believer. I know she is more than ready to hit the ground running."
The 2025-26 season saw the Lady Pioneers, under Ickes, set single-season records for wins (25) and conference wins (16) in its NCAA Division II era (2013-present), including the top scoring defense and margin in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) en route to its second NCAA Tournament appearance in the last four seasons. Individually, Erin Kaufman earned NCAA Division II First Team All-America honors and was named Honorable Mention All-America by the Women's Basketball Coaches' Association.
"I am incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the Eastern Michigan staff," said Ickes. "I want to sincerely thank Coach Sahar Nusseibeh for the opportunity to be part of such a special program. My family and I are thrilled to join the EMU community, and I cannot wait to get started and contribute to the success of the program."
The 2024-2025 season was another 20+ win season for Ickes, with the Lady Pioneers finishing 22-8 on the year. The season was highlighted with a program record 13-game win streak and Icke's 100th career coaching win. The Pioneers were statistically sound, ranking nationally in a plethora of categories. Malone ranked 30th in the nation in rebound margin (6.2), 21st in three-pointers per game (8.0), and 23rd in three-point shooting percentage (34.3%). Malone was one of the best defensive teams in the country as it finished the season ranked 34th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 57.0 points per game.
On Feb. 11, 2025, Malone defeated Walsh 70-49 to win the Mayor's Cup for the second consecutive season. Individually, Erin Kaufman had a standout season, earning Honorable Mention All-American by the WBCA and a Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) First Team All-Midwest Region honoree. Kaufman was named first team all-conference in the G-MAC, leading the league in a number of categories: first in scoring (16.0 ppg), second in rebounding (8.2 rpg), second in field goal percentage (55.1%), and 10th in free throw percentage (70.7%) and steals (1.7 spg). Senior Brooklyn Troyer ranked 14th nationally in three-pointer field goal percentage (40.5%) and first in the G-MAC. Troyer was a second team all-conference and all-tournament team selection. Junior Nataley Armstrong had the highest assist-to-turnover ratio in the G-MAC and ranked 17th in the country (2.1).
In the 2023-24 season, the Pioneers finished 17-13, earning a sixth consecutive G-MAC Tournament appearance under Ickes. The No. 7 seed Pioneers upset No. 2 seed Kentucky Wesleyan on the road in the quarterfinals before eventually falling in the semifinals. Malone was ranked 34th nationally in rebounding margin, outrebounding opponents by 5.3 rebounds per game while slotting 35th in three-point percentage (33.9%). The season also highlighted a first team all-conference and all-tournament team selection in Erin Kaufman.
In her fifth season at Malone, Ickes guided the Pioneers to a 21-10 record, despite returning four total players and adding five freshmen. The Lady Pioneers were ranked nationally and received the program's first at-large bid into the NCAA Division II Tournament. The 21 wins is the most wins since 2016-17, when Ickes was an assistant on the G-MAC Championship team. In addition to the 20+ victories, the 2022-23 season featured a program record win streak of nine consecutive road games. Malone was one of the best offensive teams in the country as it ranked seventh nationally in three-point percentage (36.9%) and 16th in field goal percentage (45.1%). Alexis Hutchison received first-team all-conference, all-defensive selection, and all-tournament team. Hutchison ranked 25th in the nation as an all-time assist leader during the 2022-23 season. The season also featured a freshman of the year award in Erin Kaufman.
In the 2021-22 season, the Pioneers finished 15-12, a six-win improvement from the year before. Malone ranked sixth in the nation in field goal percentage (46.7%). Leading the charge were Robin Campbell and Holly Groff, both who garnered second team all-conference selections.
During the 2020-21 COVID season, the Pioneers were 9-12, earning Ickes' third consecutive G-MAC Tournament appearance. Holly Groff was first team all-conference, Robin Campbell received second-team honors. The Lady Pioneers ranked 11th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.21) and 21st in the nation in assists per game (16.5). The 2019-20 campaign featured a four-win improvement with a 19-11 record and another playoff appearance. The No. 5 seed Pioneers upset No. 4 seed Cedarville on the road in the quarterfinals before falling to eventual G-MAC Champion in the semifinals. Holly Groff received first team all-conference selection.
In Ickes' first year at Malone, she led them to a 15-14 record. The Pioneers won 10 of their last 13 games before falling in the first round of the G-MAC tournament to the No. 1 seed. The season was highlighted by Ickes earning the G-MAC Coach of the Year Award, as well as freshmen of the year award for Robin Campbell.
Ickes served as an assistant coach on Rick Tice's staff at Malone from 2016-18. She helped guide the Pioneers to a G-MAC Tournament Championship and the program's first berth in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional in 2016-17.
Prior to Malone University
Ickes spent one season as a graduate assistant for the Tiffin University Dragon women's basketball team under former Pioneer head coach Jason Mishler. In addition to her collegiate experience, Ickes' coaching resume also includes four years of individual basketball instruction and skill development, including one season as the head coach of Green Middle School's 7th-grade girls team.
Education
Ickes graduated from Malone with a bachelor's degree in Life Science/Chemistry Education and then went on to earn her master's degree in Higher Education from Tiffin University.
Playing Career
A four-year member of the Malone women's basketball team, Ickes was named to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Second Team in 2013-14 after helping lead the Pioneers to a 21-10 record. Malone advanced to the GLIAC Tournament Championship Game that season after knocking off top-seed Wayne State University in the semifinal round and Ickes was voted to the GLIAC All-Tournament Team in recognition of her outstanding play.
Although her senior season was cut short due to injury, Ickes still amassed 829 career points which currently ranks 31st on Malone's all-time scoring list. She is also tied for 29th on the Pioneers' all-time rebounding list with 392 career boards and ranks 13th all-time with 281 assists. In addition, Ickes' career average of 3.2 assists per game is sixth-highest in program history.
Ickes joins the Eagles after previously serving as the head women's basketball coach at Malone University since 2018. She leaves Malone as the winningest coach in program history after compiling an impressive 143-87 record, including three 20+ win seasons, seven winning seasons, and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
"Our program is thrilled to welcome Selana and her family to Ypsilanti," said Nusseibeh. "Selana is a proven winner who understands what it takes to be successful. She brings knowledge and experience, as well as a passion that will show in her coaching. Selana's values align perfectly with Eastern women's basketball. Our program has elevated with the addition of this worker, winner, and believer. I know she is more than ready to hit the ground running."
The 2025-26 season saw the Lady Pioneers, under Ickes, set single-season records for wins (25) and conference wins (16) in its NCAA Division II era (2013-present), including the top scoring defense and margin in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) en route to its second NCAA Tournament appearance in the last four seasons. Individually, Erin Kaufman earned NCAA Division II First Team All-America honors and was named Honorable Mention All-America by the Women's Basketball Coaches' Association.
"I am incredibly excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the Eastern Michigan staff," said Ickes. "I want to sincerely thank Coach Sahar Nusseibeh for the opportunity to be part of such a special program. My family and I are thrilled to join the EMU community, and I cannot wait to get started and contribute to the success of the program."
The 2024-2025 season was another 20+ win season for Ickes, with the Lady Pioneers finishing 22-8 on the year. The season was highlighted with a program record 13-game win streak and Icke's 100th career coaching win. The Pioneers were statistically sound, ranking nationally in a plethora of categories. Malone ranked 30th in the nation in rebound margin (6.2), 21st in three-pointers per game (8.0), and 23rd in three-point shooting percentage (34.3%). Malone was one of the best defensive teams in the country as it finished the season ranked 34th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 57.0 points per game.
On Feb. 11, 2025, Malone defeated Walsh 70-49 to win the Mayor's Cup for the second consecutive season. Individually, Erin Kaufman had a standout season, earning Honorable Mention All-American by the WBCA and a Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) First Team All-Midwest Region honoree. Kaufman was named first team all-conference in the G-MAC, leading the league in a number of categories: first in scoring (16.0 ppg), second in rebounding (8.2 rpg), second in field goal percentage (55.1%), and 10th in free throw percentage (70.7%) and steals (1.7 spg). Senior Brooklyn Troyer ranked 14th nationally in three-pointer field goal percentage (40.5%) and first in the G-MAC. Troyer was a second team all-conference and all-tournament team selection. Junior Nataley Armstrong had the highest assist-to-turnover ratio in the G-MAC and ranked 17th in the country (2.1).
In the 2023-24 season, the Pioneers finished 17-13, earning a sixth consecutive G-MAC Tournament appearance under Ickes. The No. 7 seed Pioneers upset No. 2 seed Kentucky Wesleyan on the road in the quarterfinals before eventually falling in the semifinals. Malone was ranked 34th nationally in rebounding margin, outrebounding opponents by 5.3 rebounds per game while slotting 35th in three-point percentage (33.9%). The season also highlighted a first team all-conference and all-tournament team selection in Erin Kaufman.
In her fifth season at Malone, Ickes guided the Pioneers to a 21-10 record, despite returning four total players and adding five freshmen. The Lady Pioneers were ranked nationally and received the program's first at-large bid into the NCAA Division II Tournament. The 21 wins is the most wins since 2016-17, when Ickes was an assistant on the G-MAC Championship team. In addition to the 20+ victories, the 2022-23 season featured a program record win streak of nine consecutive road games. Malone was one of the best offensive teams in the country as it ranked seventh nationally in three-point percentage (36.9%) and 16th in field goal percentage (45.1%). Alexis Hutchison received first-team all-conference, all-defensive selection, and all-tournament team. Hutchison ranked 25th in the nation as an all-time assist leader during the 2022-23 season. The season also featured a freshman of the year award in Erin Kaufman.
In the 2021-22 season, the Pioneers finished 15-12, a six-win improvement from the year before. Malone ranked sixth in the nation in field goal percentage (46.7%). Leading the charge were Robin Campbell and Holly Groff, both who garnered second team all-conference selections.
During the 2020-21 COVID season, the Pioneers were 9-12, earning Ickes' third consecutive G-MAC Tournament appearance. Holly Groff was first team all-conference, Robin Campbell received second-team honors. The Lady Pioneers ranked 11th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.21) and 21st in the nation in assists per game (16.5). The 2019-20 campaign featured a four-win improvement with a 19-11 record and another playoff appearance. The No. 5 seed Pioneers upset No. 4 seed Cedarville on the road in the quarterfinals before falling to eventual G-MAC Champion in the semifinals. Holly Groff received first team all-conference selection.
In Ickes' first year at Malone, she led them to a 15-14 record. The Pioneers won 10 of their last 13 games before falling in the first round of the G-MAC tournament to the No. 1 seed. The season was highlighted by Ickes earning the G-MAC Coach of the Year Award, as well as freshmen of the year award for Robin Campbell.
Ickes served as an assistant coach on Rick Tice's staff at Malone from 2016-18. She helped guide the Pioneers to a G-MAC Tournament Championship and the program's first berth in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional in 2016-17.
Prior to Malone University
Ickes spent one season as a graduate assistant for the Tiffin University Dragon women's basketball team under former Pioneer head coach Jason Mishler. In addition to her collegiate experience, Ickes' coaching resume also includes four years of individual basketball instruction and skill development, including one season as the head coach of Green Middle School's 7th-grade girls team.
Education
Ickes graduated from Malone with a bachelor's degree in Life Science/Chemistry Education and then went on to earn her master's degree in Higher Education from Tiffin University.
Playing Career
A four-year member of the Malone women's basketball team, Ickes was named to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Second Team in 2013-14 after helping lead the Pioneers to a 21-10 record. Malone advanced to the GLIAC Tournament Championship Game that season after knocking off top-seed Wayne State University in the semifinal round and Ickes was voted to the GLIAC All-Tournament Team in recognition of her outstanding play.
Although her senior season was cut short due to injury, Ickes still amassed 829 career points which currently ranks 31st on Malone's all-time scoring list. She is also tied for 29th on the Pioneers' all-time rebounding list with 392 career boards and ranks 13th all-time with 281 assists. In addition, Ickes' career average of 3.2 assists per game is sixth-highest in program history.
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