Kim Barnes becomes winningest Michigan basketball coach as Wolverines beat Indiana Hoosiers

BREAKING: Kim Barnes Arico has become the winningest basketball coach — men’s or women’s — in school history following Michigan’s win over Indiana on Wednesday night. STORY:

In the midst of her 13th season at the helm, Michigan women’s basketball coach Kim Barnes Arico has become the winningest basketball coach in school history, surpassing John Beilein’s win total after the Michigan Wolverines beat the Indiana Hoosiers at home.

The Wolverines came back from down seven towards the beginning of the fourth quarter to eventually beat the Hoosiers, 70-67. Senior Jordan Hobbs was a constant source of offense for the Wolverines, posting a career-high 24 points, including some crucial buckets in the closing minutes to seal the win.

After going 0-fer in that first half, freshman Syla Swords bounced back in that second half, scoring 15 points, including a key lay-up with under a minute left to put Michigan up three and some clutch free throws to keep that lead.

Fellow freshman Olivia Olson also contributed with 13 points in the comeback victory.

KBA mentioned in her post-game press conference the importance of celebrating these moments, referencing the advice she got from the coach she passed on the wins list.

“Coach Beilein has said to me, and I know he said it again recently when he knew that I was in this position, if there was one thing that I could have done differently, if there’s one thing that I could have changed, it would be to enjoy these moments, Barnes Arico said. “As coaches, win or lose we don’t sleep and we analyze every play.”

Under KBA, the Wolverines have won 279 games. The only women’s coach to lead Michigan to more than 200 wins, Barnes Arico has guided the Wolverines to at least 20 wins in 11 seasons, seven consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, an NCAA Elite Eight appearance (2022), an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance (2021) and the 2017 WNIT Championship. In KBA’s tenure, two players have gotten drafted into the WNBA (Naz Hillmon in 2022, Leigha Brown in 2023).

Barnes Arico isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, as the experienced coach signed a contract extension at the beginning of the 2023-24 season to keep her in Ann Arbor through the 2027-28 season.

Here’s what Barnes Arico had to say in Nov. 2023, in her first public comments since signing the extension:

“My mother, and I still tease her to this day, couldn’t understand, ‘you hate the cold, your family is (on the east coast), why the heck are you going to the University of Michigan?’ and at that time, I was like ‘Mom, you don’t understand’,” Barnes Arico said. “It’s an opportunity for me to work at the greatest university in the world and be surrounded by excellence.”

“It allows me the opportunity to recruit players that are the best basketball players, the best students, and incredible people,” Barnes Arico continued. “What better place to do that than here? My last 12 years have been unbelievable. I don’t want to coach anywhere else, I want to be here throughout the rest of my career. So for the university to do that and make that commitment to me and my family is really special.”

Barnes Arico signed the top-ranked recruiting class in program history a month after these quotes, with five-stars Syla Swords and Olivia Olson headlining the talented group. That pair has led MIchigan in scoring all year, with point guard Mila Holloway and forward TeYala Delfosse being key pieces this season and beyond. The future of this program is in good hands as that group matures.

With the win, the Wolverines improved to 18-7 on the season and 9-5 in conference. The Wolverines are now on a four-game winning streak that included a revenge win over Michigan State on the road, splitting the series with the Spartans after that home loss a few weeks back .

The Wolverines fell out of the top-25 a few weeks back , with the Wolverines having a 3-6 record in Quad 1 games as of Feb. 12. The Wolverines have two wins over ranked opponents (road victories over MSU and Minnesota), and here’s where the Wolverines stood in the eyes of bracketologists ahead of this win:

• ESPN’s Charlie Creme — 7 seed
• NBC Sports’ Aiden Berg — 8 seed
• CBS’ Connor Groel — 9 seed

Barnes Arico’s next chance to extend that win total is on Monday, Feb. 17, with the Wolverines heading to College Park to take on the No. 17 Maryland Terrapins in a chance to earn a third ranked win. That game tips off at 6 p.m. on Big Ten Network.