DULUTH, Minn. – The College of St. Scholastica Athletic Department has announced the hiring of Rob McDonald as the next head coach of the Saints women's basketball program.
He arrives at St. Scholastica following four seasons as an assistant coach at Saginaw Valley State University, an NCAA Division II institution in Michigan. McDonald becomes the program's head coach after Jason Schmitz resigned earlier this spring to accept an assistant coaching position at the NCAA Division I level.
"Get ready, Saints community — we are thrilled to welcome Rob McDonald to the St. Scholastica family as our new Head Women's Basketball Coach," said Director of Athletics Jessica Cherry. "Rob brings a contagious positive spirit, great energy, and a strong commitment to student-athlete growth that will be a tremendous boost to our program. We are excited for the leadership, enthusiasm, and values he will bring to the Saints Family that aligns beautifully with our mission and Benedictine values."
McDonald has coaching experience at multiple NCAA Division II programs, including Saginaw Valley State, Saint Leo University in Florida and Lincoln University of Missouri. Throughout his career, he has specialized in player development, recruiting, scouting and program building.
At Saginaw Valley State, McDonald worked under head coach Jenny Pruett and helped guide the Cardinals in one of the nation's most competitive Division II conferences. Over the past four seasons, McDonald contributed in coaching the GLIAC Freshman of the Year in forward Kaitlyn Geurink, among other All-Conference level student-athletes.
Prior to joining SVSU, he spent time at Saint Leo University, where he played a key role in team and opponent scouting and player development. During his tenure, the Lions recorded 12 Sunshine State Conference victories, the program's highest conference win total since joining the league, and advanced to the conference tournament.
Before Saint Leo, McDonald served as lead assistant coach at Lincoln University of Missouri. He began his collegiate coaching career at Eastern Florida State College, where he helped the program earn a national Top-25 ranking at the NJCAA level.
A former NCAA Division III student-athlete, McDonald competed in both basketball and football at St. Olaf College, where he earned a bachelor's degree in studio arts.
"I am honored and grateful to be named the Head Women's Basketball Coach at The College of St. Scholastica," McDonald said. "First and foremost, I give all glory to God for guiding me on this journey. I would like to thank Director of Athletics Jessica Cherry for trusting my vision and providing me the opportunity to elevate this program. I am also grateful to the search committee for their belief in me and support throughout the process."
McDonald said St. Scholastica's mission and values made the opportunity especially appealing.
"St. Scholastica's values align with my own, and the department's mission allows me to develop student-athletes both on and off the court," McDonald said. "The city of Duluth offers a strong sense of community and a great environment for our student-athletes, and I look forward to embracing it."
In 2025-26, St. Scholastica posted a 16-10 overall record and secured its first-ever Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference postseason berth since joining the league.
"I want to thank the young women in our program for their trust and for allowing me the opportunity to serve, develop and compete for championships together," McDonald said. "Lastly, I am deeply thankful for my family and especially my wife, whose unwavering support and belief in me have made this moment possible."
McDonald, better known as Coach Rob, is married with three children.