LOUISVILLE, Ky. — For ten years, coach Juli Fulks led the Transylvania women’s basketball team. She racked up 242 wins, six Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference championships, seven NCAA Tournament appearances, three Elite Eights, two Final Fours and the 2023 National Championship. Now the Division III coach has been tapped to lead the Division I Marshall Thundering Herd.

Marshall’s Director of Athletics, Christian Spears, announced Fulks as the 9th women’s basketball coach in school history.

“You know, no one has a more significant impact on the student-athlete experience than their head coach, so the people we bring to Marshall have to be amazing and have to honor that opportunity,” Spears said. “Today, with the hiring of Juli Fulks, we are doing that once again. There is no doubt she is a winner - not many coaches have 400-plus wins—but what makes her so special is the culture she will create, the way she will engage with our student-athletes and the relationships she will form with them.”

Before coming to Transy, Fulks coached at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon for 10 years building the school into a contender in the Northwest Conference.

Fulks and her Transy team went 33-1 in the 2023-24 season and Fulks was named the 2024 WBCA Division III National Coach of Year. She and her team made it to the Final Four for a second straight season.

“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve Marshall University as the Head Women’s Basketball Coach,” Fulks said. “I would like to thank President Smith, Christian Spears and their entire leadership team for entrusting me and our future staff in leading the program. We will take immense pride in serving our athletes and mentoring their personal growth as students, leaders and future professionals. Go Herd!”

Fulks is one of eight head coaches across all divisions of women’s basketball to eclipse the 400-win mark in 20 or fewer seasons. Fulks overall career record is 400-143—a winning percentage of 73.7.

“Coach Juli Fulks steps into the spotlight as Marshall University’s new Women’s Basketball coach, carrying with her not just a playbook, but a legacy of profound leadership and transformative success,” said Marshall University President Brad D. Smith. “Her approach goes beyond the court; it’s about mentoring young athletes and linking them with professionals, nurturing their growth into poised and impactful leaders.”

In the 2023-24 season,Transylvania was the No. 1 scoring defense in Division III. The Pioneers allowed just 43.6 points per game—a mark that was the best across all NCAA Divisions.

Transylvania was also No. 2 nationally in scoring margin (+27.9 points per game) while ranking in the top-10 nationally in five other categories: 3-point percentage defense, field goal percentage defense, 3-pointers per game, assist-to-turnover ratio and fouls per game.

Fulks is originally from Dola, Ohio, and played at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, where she was a member of the 1997 team that reached the Final Four after capturing the Ohio Athletic Conference title.

Fulks also has her Ph.D. in Leadership Studies from University of the Cumberlands.