Northern Michigan University defenders Emily Mueller, left, and Taya Stevenson, right, guard Finlandia's Carsyn Osterman while trying to drive toward the basket in a game played at the Berry Events Center in Marquette on Jan. 2, 2022. (Photo courtesy Daryl T. Jarvinen)

MARQUETTE — Northern Michigan University’s latest hiring completes a bridge that spans a decade for its women’s basketball team.

Former Wildcat Emily Mueller has been named an assistant coach for the upcoming season after her four-year playing career spanned from 2018-22 for the Green and Gold.

Those seasons cover the three years between stints for head coach Casey Thousand when she was originally an NMU assistant coach before coming back to Marquette to take on head coaching duties.

Between Thousand and Mueller, they have been continually in the program since 2016, Thousand’s first year at Northern.

Thousand and Mueller had one season overlapping together, the 2018-19 campaign, when Mueller was a freshman and Thousand was in her final year as an assistant under past head coach Troy Mattson.

That likely is just a coincidence in Mueller’s hire, since for two years after becoming a Northern grad she had served as a graduate assistant coach at William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri.

There she pursued her master’s degree in athletic administration. As a coach, she assisted in planning, coaching and instruction of practices, games and individual player development. And she contributed to game strategy, preparation and execution, including scouting opponents and analyzing game footage.

“We are thrilled to welcome Emily back to NMU,” Thousand said in an NMU Sports Information news release detailing the hiring. “Emily brings high energy, a true eagerness to learn and valuable collegiate coaching experience that will leave a lasting mark on our program.”

Mueller earned her bachelor’s degree in secondary health and physical education from NMU in December 2022. Throughout that year, she served as an intern on the women’s basketball coaching staff, along with coaching the Marquette Senior High School freshman team.

She was a team captain in each of her final two playing season at Northern, finishing with 91 games played, totaling 375 points and 341 rebounds.

For three years, she was also the vice president of the NMU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Story contents based on Northern Michigan University Sports Information press release reviewing/previewing the games/meet. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.