Indianapolis — Defending NAIA national champion Marian University Women's Basketball added to its staff with the hiring of Maisie Elston as its Associate Head Coach, Marian announced Wednesday afternoon.
 
Elston comes to Marian following four years as the Head Women's Basketball Coach and Senior Woman Administrator at NCAA Division III Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati.
 
"I am extremely excited and honored to join Marian University and be part of a program that has established itself as one of the best in the country," Elston said. "I am grateful to Coach Sunny for trusting me with this opportunity, and I'm excited to learn from and work alongside her as we continue building on the championship culture already in place. I'm ready to get to work and help push this program toward its next championship. I'm proud to be a part of the Marian family and excited for what's ahead."
 
Elston led the Lions to 70 wins over her four seasons as head coach, earning a spot in the conference tournament each year. She coached 19 all-conference selections and the 2025-26 HCAC Defensive Player of the Year in addition to her administrative duties.
 
The Division I Houston Christian University graduate also holds international coaching experience, serving as an Assistant Coach on Great Britain's U20 FIBA Europe National Team in 2024-25. Elston's other collegiate stops include time at IU East, Earlham College and Birmingham-Southern.
 
"I am excited to welcome Maisie to our staff and am thrilled to work alongside her," Marian Head Women's Basketball Coach Suntana Anderson said. "Maisie brings a wealth of experience and love for the game. She is a proven winner; her energy and vision will be a tremendous asset to our program. I am excited to watch the impact she will have on our student-athletes and our continued pursuit of excellence at Marian."
 
Elston joins a Marian program fresh off the 2026 NAIA Women's Basketball national championship, the Knights' third national championship in the past 11 years. Marian opens up its title defense campaign on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at Rochester Christian.