Berube brings experience as new Northwestern women’s basketball coach

Carla Berube checked all the boxes.

Everything Northwestern was looking for in its new women’s basketball head coach, they found in Berube, who was introduced as the leader of the Wildcats’ program at a news conference Tuesday morning.

“We wanted somebody that could understand being at an elite academic institution, the number-seven institution in the country, competing in by far the most competitive women’s basketball conference in the country,” Northwestern athletic director Mark Jackson said. “We needed someone that was willing to take that on in every step. Carla answered that.”

Berube comes to Northwestern after seven seasons at Princeton, where she amassed a 147-29 record, reaching the NCAA Tournament in each of the past five seasons. Before that, she spent 17 years at Tufts at the Division III level, where she went 384-96 and reached two Final Fours. Over her 26-year coaching career, she has been named conference coach of the year 14 times and earned eight conference championships.

She takes over a Northwestern program that last made the NCAA Tournament in 2021. Jackson said one of the key criteria for a candidate was somebody who was a “proven winner, with established NCAA Tournament success.”

“It can’t be overnight success, winning a Big Ten championship,” Berube said. “It’s going to take some time and some growth, but I’m looking forward to the challenge. I’m looking forward to helping these young women get better every single day.”

Berube, the seventh head coach in program history, fills the shoes of Joe McKeown, who retired at the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign. McKeown tallied a program-record 276 wins in his 18 seasons at the helm for the Wildcats.

With Northwestern coming off an 8-21 season, Berube looks forward to scouring the transfer portal for talent. According to USA Today, the Wildcats told prospective candidates they would have about $1 million to work with for roster construction.

“I think the commitment is there,” Berube said. “I don’t think I would have come to Northwestern and moved my family across the country if I didn’t feel like we had the resources and commitment to win here.”

During her time leading Princeton, Berube consistently had elite defenses, including posting a top-10 mark in the nation three times. Berube said the emphasis she places on defense stems from her days as a player at UConn, where she won a national championship under legendary coach Geno Auriemma.

Berube joins an institution known for its successful women’s sports programs. Northwestern field hockey coach Tracey Fuchs has led her squad to back-to-back national championships, and women’s lacrosse coach Kelly Amonte Hiller has won eight national championships, most recently in 2023. The women’s golf team, led by coach Emily Fletcher, is the reigning national champion.

“I think I’ll be knocking down their doors and just talking to them about how they built what they’ve built,” Berube said.

In constructing a championship culture and a team that wants to win in March, Berube said she will look to recruit players possessing a high character and strong work ethic.

Berube has been a winner at all of her stops, from her playing days to Tufts and Princeton. Now, she has the opportunity to do it in the Big Ten.

“Wildcat basketball will be the team that values every possession, that forces you to guard for a full shot clock, and then comes down and makes it just as hard on you on the other end,” Berube said. “We’re going to think the game, but we’re also going to compete. We’re going to be physical, and we’re going to be relentless. But at the core, it’s about being connected, being disciplined, and playing for each other. That’s our foundation.”