Bianca Ziemann, who has accumulated four seasons of coaching experience at the collegiate and high school levels since playing professionally in Europe, has been named a women’s basketball assistant coach at the University of Oregon, according to the Ducks’ Head Coach Paul Westhead Thursday.

She replaces Keila Whittington, who resigned to assume a women’s basketball coaching position at the University of Memphis.

Ziemann was a four-year letterwinner at Loyola Marymount (2002-06), where she served as team captain her junior and senior seasons after  helping lead the Lions to the West Coast Conference Championship and an NCAA tournament berth in 2004.

Upon the completion of her collegiate career, she played professionally in the Netherlands with Amazone Women’s Basketball during the 2006-07 season, with the starting point guard leading the team to a semifinal appearance in the Dutch Championships.

“I’m very excited to have Bianca join our staff and believe she will make an immediate impact on our program,” Westhead said. “She has exhibited a lot of energy as both a coach and a player, and possesses the personality that will fit well with our team. She has excelled as a recruiter in the state of California, which is an area of her expertise we need to take advantage of.”

She returned to her alma mater last season as an assistant women’s basketball coach, aiding in the development of the team’s guard play in addition to all aspects of the school’s recruiting efforts. She also was responsible for the program’s community outreach, special events, clinics and summer camps, in addition to coordinating the team’s video exchange operations.

Prior to returning to Loyola Marymount, Ziemann spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Southern Utah (2009-11), coordinating all areas of recruiting for the Thunderbirds while contributing to on-court practices and game-day strategies. While in Cedar City, Utah, Ziemann mentored three all-conference selections and assisted with a program that posted 16 wins her final year - the most single-season victories in seven years.

"It's an absolute honor to join the University of Oregon, an experienced women's basketball staff and to coach alongside a true legend of the sport in Paul Westhead,” Ziemann said. “I'm excited for a successful summer of recruiting, the preseason and an overall great 2012-13 season. Go Ducks!"

Ziemann gained her start in the coaching ranks at the high school level, serving as an assistant coach for one season (2008-09) at Edison High School in Huntington Beach, Calif., with the Chargers claiming the Sunset League championship and a CIF runner-up finish before reaching the quarterfinals in the state playoffs. Ziemann tutored guards to three all-league selections, one second-team all-conference choice, and one league most valuable player honor.

During the final three months of her high school tenure, she also served as an assistant coach with the Swish Black basketball club team in Costa Mesa, Calif.

The 29-year-old Ziemann earned her undergraduate degree from Loyola Marymount in business management, as well as a minor in economics, in May of 2006.