If anyone really needed proof, Nancy Winstel provided it with an exclamation point last season.

What the Northern Kentucky University women’s basketball head coach did was guide her team to the NCAA Division II national championship last season. In doing so, Winstel reinforced what most already knew - that NKU is one of the nation’s elite programs and its head coach is possibly the country’s most outstanding mentor.

Winstel, in her 26th season as head coach at NKU, reached the 500-win plateau as a college coach four years ago. She has also guided NKU to a pair of NCAA Division II national championships.

Last season, NKU claimed the national title by posting a 63-58 win over South Dakota. Winstel led the Norse to a 28-8 overall record en route to the NCAA Division II national championship at Kearney, Neb.

Winstel’s team also won the 1999-2000 NCAA Division II national championship, and her Norse finished with a 32-2 record that season. Winstel earned the WBCA Division II National Coach of the Year honor in 1999-2000, and the 32 victories were the most in school history. NKU also won 24 consecutive games en route to the school’s first-ever national championship.

In 25 years as head coach at NKU, Winstel has seen the Norse compile a 548-184 record, make 18 NCAA Tournament appearances, be nationally ranked in 17 seasons, win or share nine Great Lakes Valley Conference championships and advance to the NCAA Division II Final Four in 1987, 1999, 2000, 2003 and 2008.

NKU also has advanced to the NCAA Division II national championship game three times during her tenure. In addition, 50 of her players have earned All-Conference honors.

A six-time GLVC Coach of the Year selection, she has a 587-225 overall record in 28 seasons as a collegiate coach and is 316-94 (.770) against conference competition.

Two years ago, Winstel led NKU to a 21-8 record and a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament. Winstel also notched her 500th win as the Norse’s head coach when her team defeated Midway (Ky.), 98-42, on Nov. 21.

Three years ago, Winstel guided NKU to a 27-5 record and the GLVC Tournament championship. The Norse advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament and defeated Michigan Tech in the first round. NKU also finished with a No. 19 national ranking in the Division II poll. For her efforts, Winstel was named GLVC Coach of the Year.

Six years ago, Winstel guided NKU to a 26-8 record and the NCAA Division II Elite Eight for the fourth time in five seasons. The Norse then defeated Washburn and California (Pa.) to reach the NCAA Division II national championship game against South Dakota State. NKU dropped a 65-50 decision to South Dakota State in the national title game.

In 1987-88, the Norse posted a 25-3 mark and tied with Saint Joseph’s for the conference championship. The team was ranked as high as fifth and lost all three of its games in overtime. In addition, senior guard Julie Wells became the first NKU player ever to earn GLVC Player of the Year and All-America honors.

Her 1986-87 team finished 25-5, won the conference and Great Lakes Regional championships and lost in overtime to eventual national champion New Haven (Conn.), 77-74, in the national semifinals. Her 1985-86 team shared its first conference title with Bellarmine and earned a No. 7 national ranking.

This season is the 31st that the Newport, Ky., native has been involved with the women’s basketball program at NKU. Winstel played with the Lady Norse from 1974-77 and was an assistant coach from 1981-83.

After graduating from NKU with a degree in physical education and history in 1977, Winstel attended Indiana University and earned her master’s degree in physical education with an emphasis on coaching in 1978.

Her first head coaching position came at Midway (Ky.), where she spent three seasons and posted a 39-41 record. In her last two seasons, Midway won two KWIC championships.

She returned to NKU in 1981 and served as assistant women’s basketball coach, assistant volleyball coach and head softball coach for two seasons.