James Arnold - an assistant basketball coach the past two seasons at NCAA Division I Southeast Missouri State - has been named the new head coach of the Lady Blue Jays, Westminster College announced Tuesday.
Arnold replaces Tracey Braden, who resigned in late March to become head coach at The University of the South, a Division III school located in Sewanee, Tennessee. Braden spent 10 seasons at Westminster College, compiling a 155-100 overall record and guiding the Lady Blue Jays to two appearances in the Division III national tournament.
Westminster president Benjamin Akande and senior director of athletic advancement Matt Mitchell - who is also head coach of the men's basketball team - announced Arnold's hiring.
"I'd like to thank Dr. Akande, the committee, and Coach Mitchell for this wonderful opportunity," said Arnold, a West Virginia native. "I am extremely excited about inheriting a program in such great shape.
"Coach Braden did a wonderful job and experienced a ton of success during her time. The pieces are there for us to continue the program's trajectory, and the sky is the limit."
Arnold - prior to his time at SEMO - spent four years as head coach at Central Methodist University, an NAIA Division I school located in Fayette. He accumulated a 79-45 overall record, including a 42-30 mark in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.
Arnold directed the Lady Eagles to a 25-8 record in the 2012-13 season and a trip to the NAIA national tournament.
Arnold also spent four years as head coach at Highland Community (Kansas) College and then five years in the same position at North Central Missouri College in Trenton.
"My family and I are anxious to get to campus and be part of the Fulton community," Arnold said.
Braden departed as the all-time winningest coach in Westminster history. She steered the Lady Blue Jays to St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular-season titles in 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2015-16, as well as SLIAC postseason tournament championships in 2012 and 2013.
Braden was named SLIAC coach of the year in 2008-09, 2010-11, 2012-13 and 2015-16.