The Mount Vernon Nazarene University Department of Athletics announced Amanda Learned was selected as the new head coach of the women's basketball program. Learned comes to MVNU from Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois, where she has served as the assistant women's basketball coach and head junior varsity coach.

"We are thrilled to add Amanda to our coaching staff," said Keith Veale, MVNU athletics director. "I think our search committee did an excellent job sifting through candidates and found someone in whom we have a lot of confidence. Amanda is a young, competent coach who won the committee over with her relational ability and her desire to coach at MVNU. We are excited for the players in the women's basketball program. They will learn more than just basketball from Amanda. Her heart to point them toward Jesus and build their faith was evident throughout the interview process."

Learned has been at Trinity Christian College for the past five seasons assisting the head coach with coordination of the day-to-day operations of the program. She played an integral role in practices and preparations for games, recruiting, organizing film exchange, scouting, game planning, and working with players one-on-one to develop their skills. Learned also helped develop and start the junior varsity program and has served as the head coach for the past two seasons. Learned played a key role in guiding Trinity Christian to the quarterfinals of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament this past season.

"I would first like to give God the glory for opening this door for me at just the right time," Learned said. "I am honored, excited, and humbled to be joining the MVNU community. I would like to thank Coach Veale, Dr. Spaulding, Dr. Sessink, and the rest of the search committee for this opportunity to be the head women's basketball coach. I could not be more thrilled to be part of such an upstanding university that continuously strives for excellence in every aspect of life. I am looking forward to leading the team, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for the women's basketball program."

Learned is a 2009 graduate of Trinity Christian College. She was named the CCAC Freshman of the Year following the 2005-2006 season and was named to the All-Conference team as a sophomore, junior, and senior. She earned NCCAA All-Region Honors three times and was an NCCAA All-American Honorable Mention as a senior. She helped guide the team to the conference tournament title in 2007 and the school's first-ever trip to the NAIA National Championship tournament.

During her college career, Learned amassed 1,424 career points and 813 rebounds, ranking her seventh and sixth respectively in the Trinity record books. She owns the school career record for three throw percentage (78.6 percent) and holds the single-season record for free throw percentage at 85.9 percent, which she set during the 2006-2007 campaign.

Learned holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sports and Leisure Studies with minors in coaching, education, and theology. Learned will finish her master's degree in sports science from the United States Sports Academy in Daphne, Alabama, in early July.

She will become the seventh head coach in program history since the inaugural season of 1977-1978.

--Mount Vernon Nazarene University