Tena Krause
Coach's Email
Under Head Coach Tena Krause, the Taylor University women's basketball program has become one which opponents know will be consistent. There will always be effort, solid play and determination.
For Krause, basketball presents a platform to teach her athletes a variety of lessons. "I love this sport because it has challenged me in more areas of my life than anything else I have competed in. My hope and desire is that our players will learn more about themselves as part of our team as well as develop a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ."
Krause also finds a perfect fit with the mission of Taylor. "It has been my goal since I came to Upland that our teams use the talents and abilities God gave us to glorify Him through our efforts both on and off the court."
Her most recent accomplishment on the court is guiding her Lady Trojans to a 21-12 record and their fifth appearance at the NAIA National Tournament in the 2008-09 season.
The 2006-07 season was one of her finest as she guided her Lady Trojan team to the Elite Eight at the NAIA National Tournament. This performance followed a season ending ranking of #21 in the NAIA polls and a 23-12 record.
In 2005-06 Krause led her squad to another winning season. The Lady Trojans played one of the top NAIA schedules en route to an 18-14 season. 2004-05 saw the Lady Trojans post a 23-10 record and advance to the NAIA National Tournament for the third time during Krause's tenure with the team.
The 2000-01 edition of the Lady Trojans posted a 24-8 mark, defeating the #1 rated St. Francis Cougars on their home court. This same group was rated as high as 8th in the NAIA and finished second in the MCC.
Her 1999-2000 squad began the season with a 10-13 mark, then went on a 10-2 tear to finish the season at 20-15, good enough for second place in the Mid-Central Conference race.
Krause led both the 1996-97 and 1997-98 squads to the NAIA Division II National Tournament, with the ‘97-'98 squad advancing to the Sweet Sixteen. She is the only Lady Trojan coach to accomplish this feat. The '96-'97 Lady Trojans posted a 28-8 record - the most wins and best winning percentage in the program's history. They also received their first ranking in the NAIA Division II National Poll, finishing as high as #11.
Overall Krause, who enters her 21st season at Taylor, has a record of 389-267, which is the most victories by any Taylor women's basketball coach.
In 1995-96, Krause guided the Lady Trojans to a 24-9 record, which was the most wins in a season by any TU women's basketball team at the time.
Taylor also captured the Mid-Central Conference regular season championship that year, for the first time in the program's history. Coach Krause was honored as the MCC Coach of the Year.
The 1994-95 campaign saw Krause's team post a 20-11 overall record, as freshman center Natalie Steele was named an NAIA 3rd Team All-American - the first Taylor women's basketball player to receive the honor. Under Krause's tutelage, Steele went on to become a four-time NAIA All-American.
In only her third season at Taylor, Krause's 1990-91 team set a school record (at the time) with 23 wins and captured the Hoosier Conference for Women championship. Krause was named the HCW Coach of the Year that season.
Prior to arriving at Taylor, Krause spent one year as assistant softball coach at Eastern Illinois University and three seasons at Altamont (Ill.) High School as head coach for basketball, volleyball and softball. Her 1980-81 basketball team at Altamont advanced to the Illinois State Tournament Elite Eight, and her volleyball squad made it to the "Sweet Sixteen" in 1981.
A native of Shipman, Ill., Krause earned her B. S. degree in physical education in 1980 from Greenville College, Ill.
At Greenville, Krause starred in basketball, softball and tennis. She was named to the All-State team in basketball, the NAIA Player of the Week in basketball and was also the team MVP in tennis.
Krause was honored by her alma mater in the spring of 1996, as she was inducted into the Greenville College Athletic Hall of Fame for her accomplishments at Greenville and at Taylor.
In 1998, Krause was awarded another accolade as she was inducted into Greenville's Hall of Fame as a member of the 1980 Greenville women's basketball team.
Krause earned a Master's Degree in Curriculum Development in physical education at Eastern Illinois University in 1988. In the summer of 1996, Krause earned her MA in Health Science/Physiology from Ball State University.
Krause served as head coach of the Taylor women's tennis team from 1989-93. During that time, the Lady Trojans won or tied for the NAIA District title four times, and her 1992 team finished 21st in the nation.
A member of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the American Health Association (AHA) and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), Krause resides in nearby Muncie, Ind.
In addition to her coaching duties, Krause is an associate professor in the Department of Health, Physical Education and Human Performance at Taylor.
During her tenure at Taylor, Krause has coached seven NAIA All-Americans, three conference players of the year, seven NAIA All-District players, twenty-one All-Conference players and two NCCAA All-Americans.
Assistant Coach - Denise Johnson
Denise Johnson is head assistant for the Lady Trojans. Coach Johnson is also part of the faculty and teaches in the departments of Physical Education Human Performance and Psychology.
She enters her 15th season of working with the Lady Trojans where her responsibilities include recruiting, scouting, and many behind-the-scenes duties. As head recruiter, Johnson has built relationships with coaches, prospective recruits, parents, and teachers across the Midwest. These relationships have been the core of her success, having produced athletes that have led TU to the NAIA National Tournament three of the past five seasons.
A 1984 graduate of Eastern Illinois University, Johnson received her MS in Educational Psychology and Counseling from Eastern Illinois University in 1989. In 2007 Coach Johnson received her Master's Degree in physical education at Ball State University.
Assistant Coach - Kristen Ludwig
A 2008 graduate of Taylor University, Kristen Ludwig joins the Lady Trojan bench for her first season of coaching. While at Taylor, Ludwig earned a degree in Social Studies education.
During her four years at TU the Lady Trojans posted an 81-50 record and twice earned a trip to the NAIA National Tournament, reaching the Elite Eight in 2007. Ludwig was named as both a NAIA and a Mid-Central College Conference Scholar-Athlete.
A native of Naperville, Ill., Ludwig's responsibilities with the Lady Trojans include assisting in scouting and recruiting.
Coach Ludwig has worked for the Chicago Bulls, Doug Bruno (DePaul University), and Taylor summer basketball camps where she coached teams and handled instructional sessions.