University of St. Thomas Athletics
St. Thomas' Ruth Sinn announces retirement following 2025-26 season
2/10/2026 10:29:00 AM | Women's Basketball
ST. PAUL, MINN. – A mainstay of University of St. Thomas women's basketball for more than two decades, head coach Ruth Sinn announced she will retire following the 2025-26 season. Sinn, who has spent 25 years with the program as both a player and coach, will be honored and celebrated during the team's final regular-season home game on February 25, 2026.
"St. Thomas has been home to me and my family for nearly my entire adult life," said Sinn, the winningest coach in program history. "Every season, every team and every locker room has left a mark on me. Watching our student-athletes grow, not just as basketball players, but as people, has been the greatest joy of my career. I am thankful for the countless relationships built, the trust of this community and the opportunity to spend my life doing something I love at a place that means so much to me."
"Ruth is a Tommie through and through, and we cannot thank her enough for what she has done for St. Thomas athletics and our women's basketball program," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Phil Esten. "Ruth was a pioneer in many ways, setting the foundation for Tommie basketball first as a player, then as a coach. Her deep care for the overall development of our student-athletes goes beyond the basketball court, and her impact will be felt by this program and its alumni for years to come."
THE SINN FILE
- First female coach in department history to win 400 career games (vs. Denver, January 25, 2025)
- Compiled overall record of 417-169 in 21 years as head coach
- 2019 USA Women's Basketball 16U FIBA Americas gold medalist
- 2012 National Coach of the Year Finalist
- 2002 Minnesota State Girls Basketball Coaches' Association Hall of Fame inductee
- 1992 Tommie Athletic Hall of Fame inductee (player)
- 10x MIAC Tournament Champion (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
- 4x MIAC Coach of the Year (2008, 2012, 2015, 2017)
- 2x West Region Coach of the Year (2012, 2017)
- Coached five WBCA and DIIIHoops.com All-Americans, including 2017 DIIIHoops.com Player of the Year Kaitlin Langer
A LASTING LEGACY
Sinn built a nationally respected Division III program during her first 16 seasons as St. Thomas' head coach before leading the Tommies through the program's historic transition to Division I. In five Division I seasons, Sinn's teams steadily climbed the Summit League standings, improving each year and earning the No. 4 seed in the conference tournament last season. She earned her 400th career victory against Denver during the 2024-25 season, joining former coaches Steve Fritz, Dennis Denning, Terry Skrypek, Tom Feely and John Tschida, along with current head volleyball coach Thanh Pham, as the only coaches in department history to reach the milestone with their respective programs. Sinn is also the first female coach and third coach of a women's program in department history to eclipse the mark.
Prior to St. Thomas' transition to Division I, Sinn and the Tommies established themselves as a Division III powerhouse. Her 355-88 record at the Division III level included a remarkable 250-31 mark from 2010-21, the best 10-year winning percentage of any Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) sports program, male or female. During that span, Sinn led St. Thomas to three Division III Final Four appearances and three additional Sweet 16 berths, while the Tommies captured 13 of a possible 18 MIAC championships (regular season and tournament). She was a two-time West Region Coach of the Year, four-time MIAC Coach of the Year and a finalist for National Coach of the Year in 2011-12.
In addition to serving as head coach for 21 seasons, Sinn played for St. Thomas from 1980-84. As the Tommies' point guard, she led the program to its first two conference championships and compiled an overall record of 80-36. Sinn was among the first seven women inducted into the St. Thomas Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992 and remains the only Tommie to have played or coached in all four St. Thomas basketball venues.
Sinn will be honored February 25, 2026, when the Tommies host Kansas City in their final home game of the 2025-26 season. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Lee & Penny Anderson Arena in St. Paul, Minnesota. Tickets can be purchased at www.tommiesports.com/tickets.
