By Bill Cornwell
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Good things tend to come from winning.
Less than one week after wrapping up a WNIT Championship, Marshall reached an agreement on a contract extension with head coach Juli Fulks through the 2030-31 season.
Fulks has a 43-29 record over two seasons at Marshall, including a 28-9 mark in the recently completed campaign that marked a single-season program record for victories, five of which came in the WNIT.
Marshall Vice President and Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison is hopeful working out an extension with Fulks leads to a lengthy tenure for her in Huntington.
“We are absolutely thrilled to retain coach Juli Fulks and finalize a restructured agreement that positions her to remain in Kelly Green for years to come,” Harrison said. “Coach Fulks has built a program centered on an outstanding student-athlete experience while fully embracing the Herd Mentality, all while competing for — and winning — championships. Her leadership has energized Herd Nation in a powerful way, and we look forward to building on this momentum. There is no question that Coach Fulks is the right leader to continue driving our program forward!”
Marshall President Brad Smith also expressed confidence in what Fulks has displayed over her first two seasons in Huntington.
“Coach Fulks has once again demonstrated her exceptional leadership skills, closing out an incredible season,” Smith said. “She continues to elevate our women’s basketball program while representing our university with integrity, passion and purpose. We are delighted to retain a coach of her caliber and, just as importantly, a person of such outstanding character. Juli is an outstanding leader, an outstanding ambassador for Marshall, and a true difference-maker in the lives of student-athletes and our broader campus and community.”
Along with the contract extension, the agreement also increases funds for Marshall’s assistant coaching pool, helping Fulks invest in the future development of the Thundering Herd by attracting and retaining staff members.
Fulks, who led Transylvania University to the 2023 NCAA Division III National Championship, helped lead the Herd to a 15-win improvement from a 15-20 mark in her first season in Huntington.
For her coaching career, Fulks has a career record of 443-172.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the belief and commitment shown by President Smith, Gerald Harrison, and our administration,” Fulks said. “There is a shared vision at Marshall for excellence on the court, in the classroom and in the community, and that alignment is what makes this place so special. I’m proud of what our staff has built, and even more excited about where we’re headed. Herd Nation has embraced our program in such a powerful way, and we are deeply thankful for the energy, passion, and support that fuels everything we do.”