BYU women’s basketball adds Aaron Kallhoff as assistant coach

PROVO, Utah – BYU head women’s basketball coach Amber Whiting announced Tuesday that Aaron Kallhoff is joining the staff as an assistant coach.

“I could not be more excited about Aaron and his family deciding to come to BYU and join our staff,” Whiting said. “He brings with him 20 years of college coaching experience at the junior college, mid-major and Power 5 level. His experience at all those levels will be a valuable asset in recruiting the types of players that will help us win in the Big 12. His recruiting network ranges from junior college to internationally and in areas of the country where we haven’t had a strong presence in the past. Aaron’s experience and his personality is an amazing fit for our staff.”

Kallhoff most recently spent seven years as a Power 5 coach at Penn State, LSU and TCU. He was just named one of the most impactful high major assistant coaches by Silver Waves Media and elected by Top Connect as a top assistant in the country.

“BYU is a great place and I am really excited to join the BYU family,” Kallhoff said. “I have been fortunate to work at some excellent places and with some great coaches. I am looking forward to joining Coach Whiting as she continues to build off the momentum and tradition that BYU has to offer. My family and I are excited to make Provo our home.”

Most recently, Kallhoff spent the 2021-22 season at Penn State where he helped coach All-Big Ten first teamer Makenna Marisa and All-Freshman selection Leilani Kapinus.

Prior to Penn State, Kallhoff spent three years as an assistant coach at LSU in which he played an instrumental role in bringing highly-ranked national and international players to Baton Rouge, including a Top 20 recruiting class in 2019. He helped guide the Tigers to a 20-win season in 2019-20 as LSU was primed for an NCAA Tournament berth before the cancellation of the postseason tournament due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
Kallhoff primarily worked with the LSU post players, developing Faustine Aifuwa and Ayana Mitchell into two of the top all-around players in the SEC. Mitchell was a two-time All-SEC performer, while Aifuwa was named to the 2020 SEC All-Defensive Team.
 
Before joining the Tigers, Kallhoff spent three seasons as an assistant coach at TCU, helping the Horned Frogs advance to postseason play in two of his three seasons on staff. He was responsible for post play at TCU as well, mentoring All-Big 12 selections Jordan Moore and Amy Okonkwo.
 
Kallhoff spent two seasons on the staff at Arkansas State from 2013-15 where he helped lead the Red Wolves to 46 wins, including their first postseason victory since 2007. Arkansas State tallied a second-most wins in program history during the 2014-15 season with 24 and went a combined 30-8 in Sun Belt Conference play over his two years. He helped guide Audrea Gamble to back-to-back Sun Belt Player of the Year awards.
 
The Norfolk, Nebraska, native went to Arkansas State after spending a season as assistant coach at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas, where he helped lead the Lady Cardinals to a 36-1 record and their seventh NJCAA National Championship.
 
Prior to his time at Trinity Valley, Kallhoff spent four years as head coach at Hill College in Hillsboro, Texas. He was named the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference Co-Coach of the Year in his final season at Hill, leading the Lady Rebels to a 27-5 record, a share of the league title and a berth in the Region V semifinals.
 
Kallhoff also was tabbed as one of the nation’s top and upcoming junior college coaches by Women’s Basketball Insider. During his tenure at Hill, Kallhoff coached three All-Americans, four All-Region V selections, 16 NTJCAC All-Conference selections, one NTJCAC Player of the Year, two NTJCAC Defensive Players of the Year and one NTJCAC Freshman of the Year. His teams also received national academic honors on three separate occasions.
 
He spent one season serving as the head women’s basketball coach and assistant athletic director at Allen County Community College in Iola, Kansas, where the Red Devils achieved a 3.1 overall team grade point average.
 
Kallhoff began his collegiate playing career at Iowa Central Community College where he led the NJCAA Division II Iowa Region in three-point field goal percentage. In 2000, he earned All-Region IX athletic and academic honors at Northeast Nebraska Community College after averaging 14 points per game. He completed his playing career at Bemidji State where he was a two-year starter, and in his senior season led NCAA Division II in assist/turnover ratio.
 
In 2003, Kallhoff graduated from Bemidji State with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication with an emphasis in public relations, advertising and electronic media. While at Bemidji State, he represented the University as a chairman for Special Olympics and the United Way Foundation, and was involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
 
Kallhoff and his wife, Josie, have three children, Camden, Caylix and Capri.