JOPLIN, Mo. – Missouri Southern head women's basketball coach Ronnie Ressel announced Monday the addition of assistant coach Rebekah Wendland to the Lions staff.

"We are extremely excited to add Coach Becks to our staff," Ressel said of the addition of Wendland. "She has experience at multiple levels from high school to college as well as travel ball. Her personality, work ethic and high character fits really well with what we are looking for in a coach."

Wendland previously spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota. 

The Vikings posted an overall record of 11-15 in 2024-25 and went on to a 10-4 mark in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC). Bethany advanced to the UMAC Tournament for the first time in three seasons. Wendland coached three UMAC All-Conference award recipients that season including UMAC Rookie of the Year Arinn McGee.

In 2023-24, Bethany notched a 7-18 overall record and 7-7 mark in the UMAC with a trio of UMAC All-Conference performers.

Prior to Bethany, Wendland served as the head coach at Sherwood Cass R-VIII, leading the Lady Marksmen to their first 19-win season since 2010.

She was previously on staff as an assistant coach at Derby High School and helped the team to a Class 6A State Runner-Up finish in 2022. 

Wendland, a Yates Center, Kansas, native, also has coaching experience with the grassroots AAU program, Minnesota Rise. 

A 2019 graduate of Emporia State University, Wendland earned a degree in Secondary Social Science Education and completed her MS of Educational Administration from ESU in 2021.