Heather Oesterle was hired on April 25, 2024 to round out Setsuko Ishiyama Director of Women's Basketball Kate Paye's inaugural staff at Stanford. Oesterle is making a return to The Farm after an accomplished coaching career that began with the Cardinal in 2002-03.
Oesterle spent last season as the strategic program director for Notre Dame women's basketball, where she served as the liaison for NIL education and brand-building for Fighting Irish student-athletes. Before that she as a four-year head coach at Central Michigan, winning the Mid-American Conference (MAC) regular-season title in 2020 and a MAC Tournament championship in 2021.
Prior to becoming the head coach at CMU, Oesterle served as an assistant in Mount Pleasant for nine seasons, including the final seven as associate head coach. During that time, she helped the team to three MAC championships, two MAC Tournament titles, and three trips to the NCAA Tournament, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2018.
Oesterle was an assistant at Northern Illinois from 2008-10 and at Miami (Ohio) from 2003-08. She was a volunteer assistant at Stanford in 2002-03, helping the Cardinal to a 27-5 finish, the Pac 10 regular-season and tournament titles, and an NCAA Tournament berth.
As a player, Oesterle was a four-year contributor at Michigan. She served as the Wolverines' team captain in 2001-02 and was honored with the program's Leadership Award following her senior season. She helped Michigan to a four-year record of 76-45 (.628), which included two NCAA Tournament and two NIT appearances.
A native of Mason, Mich., Oesterle earned her bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Michigan in 2002 and her masters in sports studies from Miami in 2008.
Oesterle spent last season as the strategic program director for Notre Dame women's basketball, where she served as the liaison for NIL education and brand-building for Fighting Irish student-athletes. Before that she as a four-year head coach at Central Michigan, winning the Mid-American Conference (MAC) regular-season title in 2020 and a MAC Tournament championship in 2021.
Prior to becoming the head coach at CMU, Oesterle served as an assistant in Mount Pleasant for nine seasons, including the final seven as associate head coach. During that time, she helped the team to three MAC championships, two MAC Tournament titles, and three trips to the NCAA Tournament, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2018.
Oesterle was an assistant at Northern Illinois from 2008-10 and at Miami (Ohio) from 2003-08. She was a volunteer assistant at Stanford in 2002-03, helping the Cardinal to a 27-5 finish, the Pac 10 regular-season and tournament titles, and an NCAA Tournament berth.
As a player, Oesterle was a four-year contributor at Michigan. She served as the Wolverines' team captain in 2001-02 and was honored with the program's Leadership Award following her senior season. She helped Michigan to a four-year record of 76-45 (.628), which included two NCAA Tournament and two NIT appearances.
A native of Mason, Mich., Oesterle earned her bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Michigan in 2002 and her masters in sports studies from Miami in 2008.