About Melissa Ringhausen

Melissa Ringhausen earned a bachelor of arts degree in biology from Ottawa University in 1994 and a master of science degree in education from the University of Kansas in 1996. Ringhausen spent 23 years at McKendree University as a coach and administrator. She served as the head women’s basketball coach for 18 seasons, from 1997 through 2015, winning a school record 316 games and leading the Bearcats to nine NAIA National Division I tournament appearances. Her teams excelled in the classroom, and they were recognized six times by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association among the top 25 academic teams in the NAIA. In the summer of 2010, Ringhausen began her administrative role at McKendree University as assistant director of athletics and senior woman administrator. She served as interim director of athletics in 2012 and was promoted in 2013 to associate director of athletics. After the 2014-15 basketball season, Ringhausen stepped down from her coaching duties to pursue a full-time administrator position directly overseeing 17 of the 35 sports within the department. In July 2020, she joined Missouri S&T as the director of intercollegiate athletics and recreation. Her husband, Lance, is the head athletic trainer, and they have a daughter, Lindy.