Chris Kielsmeier, who guided the Howard Payne Lady Jackets to the 2008 NCAA Division III women’s basketball national championship with a perfect 33-0 record, has been hired as the next head coach at Texas State University in San Marcos.

Kielsmeier brings a 594-196 career record (.751 winning percentage) and 15 career postseason appearances to a Bobcat program that posted an 11-19 mark this past season under outgoing head coach Zenarae Antonie. Texas State will compete in the Pac 12 along with Gonzaga, Oregon State, Washington State, Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State, Utah State and Fresno State starting with the 2026-27 season going forward. Texas State has made one NCAA tournament appearance in 2003.

In a press release issued by Texas State, Kielsmeier said, “I am thrilled to be joining the Texas State community and looking forward to an amazing opportunity to build something really special with the Bobcat Family. I would like to thank President Kelly Damphousse and Athletics Director Don Coryell for putting their faith in me to lead the women’s basketball program as they enter the prestigious PAC-12 era. I can’t wait to get started with building on the tradition and success the program has had in the past, while instilling a new standard of excellence that will see the Bobcat women’s basketball program become a perennial contender for championships and postseason bids.”

Kielsmeier most recently served as head coach at NCAA Division I Cleveland State where he posted a 178-80 record over eight seasons with one Horizon League championship, one Horizon League tournament title, and none trip to the NCAA Tournament. His best season at Cleveland State with a 30-5 record and the NCAA berth. The following season, a 29-6 campaign, he was named Horizon League Coach of the Year.

This season, Cleveland State finished with a 26-10 overall record and reached the Great 8 of the WNIT tournament, falling to Arkansas State, 71-53.

Prior to Cleveland State, Kielsmeier was the head coach at Division II Wayne State College, where he spent 10 seasons with the Wildcats. Kielsmeier left Wayne State as the all-time winningest coach in program history with a career record of 237-72, setting his winning percentage at 76.5%.

Kielsmeier spent nine years at Howard Payne University, one as a an assistant before taking over as the head coach in 2000. During his career, he became the all-time winningest coach at HPU, obtaining a career record of 179-44 (.802).

Kielsmeier led the Lady Jackets to three ASC Conference Championships during the 2004-05, 2006-07, and 2007-08 seasons. Under Kielsmeier, HPU made four NCAA appearances, including the NCAA National Championship following the 2007-08 “Perfect Swarm” season. HPU was annually ranked in the top 25 during Kielsmeier’s tenure.