SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. -- USF women's basketball head coach Molly Goodebour has announced changes to her staff for the upcoming 2022-23 season with the promotion of former Director of Operations Derek Saich to an assistant coach, and the addition of former player Dolapo Balogun as the program's Director of Operations. 

"We are really excited and fortunate to welcome Dop back to the Hilltop," Goodenbour said. "She will be a fantastic mentor for our student-athletes and as a player she was one of the best teammates you could ask for -- intelligent, mature, confident, caring, an excellent communicator and someone who could always be counted upon to do what was needed to be done to help the team be successful. Dop will be a great addition to our staff. The players will love having her as a resource and I'm so grateful she has chosen to come back and be a part of the program again.

"We are also really excited to promote Derek to an on court role within our program," Goodebour said. "In the short time he has been here he has proven to be a relentless worker and a loyal and reliable team player on our staff. He has earned an opportunity to get on the floor and coach and I know he will be a great asset for us as we head into the 2022-23 season. We feel really good about the staff we have assembled and the the team we will have the opportunity to coach this season." 

Saich enters his second season working with the Dons' women's program previously serving as the team's Director of Operations during the 2021-22 season. His role included coordinating the team's travel arrangements, managed the program's budget and prepared opponent scouting reports for the team. Prior to coming to the Hilltop Saich spent time at both Texas Southern and Nevada serving as the video coordinator for both men's programs where he was in charge of all film operations and assisted in creating recruiting materials.

"I'm really excited to continue working with this group of student-athletes and our coaching staff here on the Hilltop," Saich said. "I can't thank Coach Goodenbour enough for the opportunity to continue to learn from the staff as we work towards our goal of winning a West Coast Conference championship." 

Balogun returns to the Hilltop after playing for USF as a graduate transfer ahead of the 2019-20 season where she played in all 31 of USF games and made 14 starts as she averaged 4.2 PPG and 3.1 rebounds in her lone season as a Don. Prior to her time on the Hilltop, Balogun spent four years at Southeast Missouri State where she played more than 70 games for the Redhawks and graduated with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Dietetics.

"I am beyond blessed to join the USF women's basketball family once again," Balogun said. "The coaching staff, my teammates and athletic department as a whole has poured into me during my time as a student-athlete, once I left to pursue my education, and now I transition back to join the staff. While away I've become a registered dietitian so it's going to be great ti be an asset to the players and teach them about nutrition and athletic performance in addition to my role as Director of Operations. I'm excited to be back around the game of basketball and the USF family. Go Dons!" 

Saich is a graduate of UC Santa Barbara where he secured a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biopsychology as well as a Certificate in Sports Management. During Saich's first year on the Hilltop he was a key part of the staff that helped the Dons finish with a 17-16 overall record and a third place finish in the WCC regular season. 

Dolapo earned a Master's in Sports Management from USF's grad program and most recently became the first African American to graduate from UC San Diego's health dietetic internship program. 

The USF women's basketball program heads into the 2022-23 season fresh off consecutive WNIT appearances and back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since the 2016-18 seasons. Goodenbour heads into the season just 14 wins away from 100 career victories leading the Dons program, and star guard Ioanna Krimili is one three-point shot away from tying Anna Seilund for the second most made three-pointers in school history. 

For updates and more information on the USF women's basketball program, follow the Dons @USFDonsWBB on Twitter, @USFDonsWBB on Instagram and @USFDonsWBB on Facebook.