This story was written by Bay Colkege SID Mike Pankow

ESCANABA---Bay College Athletic Director Matt Johnson has announced the hiring of James Fassett as the next Head Women's Basketball Coach for the Bay College Norse. Coach Fassett boasts more the 20 years in women's basketball coaching experience.

"I am excited to welcome James Fassett as our next Head Women's Basketball Coach," said Johnson. "He is no stranger to the NJCAA level, with a proven track record of success. He has worked with student-athletes at the high school level, the junior college level, and the four-year level to help them reach their highest potential on and off the court, when you look at leaders of your program that's exactly what you want."

"Our program has risen to the top of the MCCAA Conference over the past couple of years and we want to stay there, and I believe that Coach Fassett is the right person to do just that."

Coach Fassett comes to Bay College from DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis, MN. In four seasons with the Islanders his teams compiled an 85-25 record, three conference championships, two state tournament appearances, and was State Runner-Up (2024).

Coach Fassett was the two-time Section Coach of the Year during his tenure at DeLaSalle.

James had a short stint as the Head Coach at St. Cloud Technical and Community College where his team saw improvement in their standings in his first season there and had several All-Conference and All-Division players.  Fassett also spent a year at Hamline University as the Assistant Coach.

Coach Fassett was an assistant coach at Anoka-Ramsey Community College from 2007 to 2010 and again from 2013-2016.  The Golden Rams made three national tournament appearances while he was with them, finishing as high as third in the country at one point.
 

In between his stints at Anoka-Ramsey, Fassett was the Head Coach at Anoka High School from 2010 to 2013.  The Tornados qualified for the state tournament twice during his time there, which was the first time in school history they made it to that level.  Several players from his time there went on to play at higher levels.
 

Coach Fassett also spent time at Minneapolis Community and Technical College where he was hired as the assistant coach but took over the head coaching position.

In 2005 he led his team to a State Runner-Up and also finished second in the Regional Tournament that year.  Fassett was named the MCAC Southern Division Coach of the Year in 2005. He has also been a coach and program director for the Minnesota Suns AAU Travel Basketball Program since 2004.  In 2019 the program was the Division II State Champions and in 2024 they were the Select 40 16U National Champions.

"I am honored and blessed to be joining the Bay College family as the Head Women's Basketball Coach and Student Success advisor," said Coach Fassett.  "My journey began in the Community College system which has always held a special place in my heart. I want to thank Bay College for giving me the opportunity to blend my passion of coaching basketball and working to help students achieve success academically as well as life and academic goals."

"My family and I are very excited to be relocating from Champlin, Minnesota and are looking forward to becoming part of Bay College and the surrounding communities. GO NORSE!!"
 

Coach Fassett will begin his duties immediately.  The Norse will travel to their first preseason scrimmage on October 13 at the Rock Valley Jamboree. They start the regular season at home on November 1 and 2 with the Terrace Bay Hotel Tip-Off Classic. They will host Jackson College on Friday and follow that up with Rock Valley College on Saturday.