University of Sioux Falls head women's basketball coach Travis Traphagen is pleased to announce the promotion of Chelsea DeVille to the Cougar's assistant coach position. DeVille was a graduate assistant on the 2009-2010 women's team.

"Chelsea is a very confident young lady that will make a great head coach someday" Traphagen said of the internal promotion. "All our current players and incoming recruits will have the ability to learn the game of basketball from a very energetic young lady that is eager for the opportunities in front of her."

DeVille will replace assistant coach Meghan Nelson, effective immediately. Nelson is expected to join the staff at NCAA Division II Northwest Missouri State University in Mayville, Mo. as an assistant coach.

"It was a no brainer for me when Coach Nelson moved on to promote Chelsea DeVille" Traphagen said of the move. "All though it is always tough to lose an assistant coach as talented as Meghan Nelson, I really believe with Coach Deville's hire, we can continue to move towards reaching a lot of our goals on and off the basketball floor."

DeVille is a native of Watertown, S.D. and spent four varsity years at Augustana College in Sioux Falls. While a Viking, DeVille was known for her outstanding, hardnosed defensive play while coordinating the offense. She started every game she played in and was named the North Central Conference Freshman of the Year.

DeVille played three seasons under Traphagen at Augustana, before playing her senior season against Traphagen, who had made the move to USF. "Coach DeVille and I go way back so I feel very comfortable with her leading our recruiting and coaching efforts" Traphagen added.

A search is underway to hire a graduate assistant to fill the vacancy left in the program by the promotion.

Four of five starters from a 2009-2010 squad that posted a 18-14 record will return for the 2010-2011 campaign.