ROCHESTER, Mich. – Ariel Braker has been named assistant coach for the Oakland women's basketball team announced head coach Jeff Tungate on Tuesday. Braker comes to the Golden Grizzlies after spending the past two seasons as an assistant coach at Lehigh.
 
"It's great to have Ariel Braker back home and her credentials speak for themselves," said Tungate. "She will play a major role in recruiting, developing our post players and implementing our press. Ariel is a winner and a rising star in this profession."
 
Last season, Braker helped guide Lehigh to a 21-10 record and 12-6 Patriot League mark after going 15-15 overall (9-9 PL) the previous season.
 
"I am excited to get back to my roots returning to Michigan," said Braker. "I grew up playing high school basketball in Michigan and I know there is a lot of talent here. I am ready to hit the ground running and help build a successful program here at Oakland University."
 
Prior to Lehigh, Braker served as an assistant coach at Western Texas where she was responsible for recruiting, scouting and managing the strength and conditioning program for the team while assisting head coach Darryl Davis with day-to-day duties.
 
Braker started her collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant coach in 2014-15 at Division II Wayne State where she assisted with player development, film editing, creating practice and game plans, as well as compliance and NCAA governance.
 
As a four-year member of the University of Notre Dame women's basketball team under former Lehigh head coach and Naismith Hall of Fame inductee, Muffet McGraw, Braker was a member of the winningest class in program history, finishing with a record of 138-15 with four Final Four berths and three appearances in the national championship game. She helped Notre Dame to three straight conference championships, including an undefeated run through the ACC in 2013-14. A two-year starter and tri-captain, Braker averaged 5.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game as a junior in 2012-13, and 4.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game as a senior. She made 130 appearances and 70 starts during her career, with the team going 67-3 in those games.
 
A native of Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, Braker graduated from Notre Dame in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in industrial design and earned a Master of Sports Administration degree from Wayne State in 2015. At Grosse Pointe North High School, she was a four-time all-state selection in basketball. She was also a four-time all-conference selection in volleyball and earned all-state honors in track and field as a high jumper. Braker's first official day will be July 1.
 
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