St. Thomas women’s basketball coach Ruth Sinn will retire at the end of this season, she announced Tuesday, Feb. 10.
Sinn, who was inducted into the Tommie Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992 after her four-year career as a Tommies player, is in her 21st season as the St. Thomas coach.
“St. Thomas has been home to me and my family for nearly my entire adult life,” Sinn said in a statement. “Every season, every team and every locker room has left a mark on me. Watching our student-athletes grow, not just as basketball players, but as people, has been the greatest joy of my career. I am thankful for the countless relationships built, the trust of this community and the opportunity to spend my life doing something I love at a place that means so much to me.”
Sinn led the Tommies to 10 MIAC tournament titles and three NCAA Division III Final Four appearances during her first 16 seasons as Tommies coach, when the program was in Division III. She then helped St. Thomas move up to Division I for the 2021-22 season. Sinn’s overall record with the Tommies is 417-169.
“Ruth is a Tommie through and through, and we cannot thank her enough for what she has done for St. Thomas athletics and our women’s basketball program,” St. Thomas Vice President and Director of Athletics Phil Esten said in a statement. “Ruth was a pioneer in many ways, setting the foundation for Tommie basketball first as a player, then as a coach. Her deep care for the overall development of our student-athletes goes beyond the basketball court, and her impact will be felt by this program and its alumni for years to come.”
Sinn, a graduate of North St. Paul High School, was a successful high school coach before returning to St. Thomas. She became the coach at Apple Valley in 1989 and led the Eagles to three state tournament appearances (1994, 1995 and 2004) and a 289-130 record in 16 years at the school.
She was named to the Minnesota State Girls Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2002.
Sinn will be honored Feb. 25 when the Tommies play host to Kansas City in their final home game of the 2025-26 regular season.
