Head Coach: Tammy Metcalf-Filzen (2023-24 will be her 19th collegiate season, 17th at Carleton)
Phone: 507-222-4058
Email: tmetcalf@carleton.edu
Tammy Metcalf-Filzen, the winningest coach in program history, returned to the Knights on July 11, 2019 when she came out of retirement to serve as Carleton's head coach for the 2019-20 campaign.
When Metcalf-Filzen initially stepped down following the 2009-10 campaign, she had just concluded her 15th season as a collegiate head coach and 13th at Carleton. She now owns a 285-191 overall career coaching ledger (.599 win percentage), including a 259-165 mark (.611) at Carleton.
"Ten years ago, I intentionally retired from collegiate coaching as that was the best move for my family at that point of our lives," said Metcalf-Filzen. "Having now entered into a new phase of life, I am excited for the opportunity to step back into this role and give back to the program and institution that has been such a huge part of my life and career. There is a lot of work to be done, and I am excited to continue!"
In her first year back, the Knights had their best record since Metcalf-Filzen retired and finished tied for sixth in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), missing playoffs due to a tie-breaker. After COVID canceled the 2020-21 season, Metcalf-Filzen led the Knights to a sixth place finish in the conference, and a berth in the MIAC Quarterfinals.
The Knights won three consecutive regular-season MIAC titles under Metcalf-Filzen's guidance from 2002-05, including the school's first outright crown in 2004-05. Carleton won five MIAC Playoff titles, including four consecutive from 2001-04 and another in 2007-08, coinciding with the program's five NCAA Tournament appearances. Metcalf-Filzen was the first coach in MIAC history, regardless of sport, to capture four straight post-season conference tournament titles.
A three-time MIAC and region coach of the year, Metcalf-Filzen first came to Carleton in 1992 as an assistant and assumed head-coaching duties on an interim basis for the 1997-98 season before taking the position permanently, eventually establishing the Knights' program as one of the elite in all of NCAA Division III.
Under her watch Carleton was ranked in the nation's top 20 and averaged more than 20 wins over a nine-year span from 2000-09. Metcalf-Filzen was inducted into the Carleton 'C' Club Athletic Hall of Fame in June 2019. Metcalf-Filzen is a long-time Northfield resident where she lives with her husband, Dave. They are parents of seven adult children and grandparents to one granddaughter.
Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Alisha Hvistendahl
Phone: 507-222-5839
Email: ahvistendahl@carleton.edu
Alisha Hvistendahl joined the Knights' coaching staff in June 2023. She most recently served as Video Coordinator and Director of Creative Content for the University of Minnesota (NCAA Division I) women's basketball program. Prior to that, she spent five years as an assistant coach with the Bethel University (Minn.) men's basketball team and two years as the director of basketball operations for two years. She was also the team's athletic trainer for eight years. She was named one of the "Top 25 Small College Assistant Coaches" by CoachStat.net and was selected as one of 30 coaches across all divisions to attend the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Coaches Academy in Tampa, Florida. Prior to her time at Bethel, Hvistendahl spent eight years with the Minnesota Timberwolves (NBA) and Minnesota Lynx (WNBA) organization, serving five of those years as the head athletic trainer for the Lynx. She worked with former WNBA standouts including Seimone Augustus (three-time Olympic gold medalist), Katie Smith (three-time Olympic gold medalist) and Teresa Edwards (five-time Olympian). She also assisted on the WNBA All-Star tour following the 2000 summer Olympic games. Hvistendahl lives in Arden Hills with husband, Scott, and their two children.
Student Assistant Coach Jonah-Kai Baker
Jonah-Kai Baker '24 joined the Knights as a student assistant coach before the 2021-22 season. A religion major and medieval & renaissance studies minor, he hails from San Francisco where he was a league champion, sectional champion, and state runner-up as a player at University High School. He also serves as a captain and president of Carleton's club volleyball team.
