| Class: | 2025-2026 |
| Team: | Coach - Women's Basketball |
The following was written on Susan Syljebeck's Hall of Fame Plaque:
Susan Syljebeck joined Siena Heights University in the 2004–05 academic year as the Head Women’s Basketball Coach, ushering in the most successful era in the program’s history. Over her twenty seasons at the helm, she led the Saints to unprecedented achievements, including seven appearances in the NAIA National Championship Tournament. Her 386 career wins account for more than half of all victories in Saints Women’s Basketball history.
Under Syljebeck’s leadership, the Saints became a model of consistency and excellence. Only four of her teams finished below a .500 record, and twelve seasons concluded with winning percentages over 60 percent—including eleven of her final twelve campaigns. With the exception of one year, every team she coached reached double-digit wins.
Her student-athletes thrived both athletically and academically. Syljebeck coached nine 1,000-point scorers and oversaw twelve of the program’s fourteen NAIA All-Americans, including two First Team selections, one Second Team honoree, three Third Team honorees, and six Honorable Mention All-Americans. Her players also earned three WHAC Player of the Year awards, 39 WHAC All-Conference accolades, one WHAC Newcomer of the Year honor, twelve WHAC All-Defensive Team selections, and six WHAC All-Freshman/All-Newcomer recognitions.
In addition, she coached eight WBCA All-Americans—one First Team honoree and seven Honorable Mention selections. Academic excellence was equally central to her program, as evidenced by 50 NAIA Scholar-Athletes and 81 Academic All-WHAC honorees during her tenure.
Syljebeck’s role extended beyond the court. She was appointed Interim Director of Athletics during the 2019–20 academic year and later assumed the role permanently. In the summer of 2024, after retiring from coaching, she was named Vice President of Athletics.
Over her remarkable career, Syljebeck coached eleven individuals and seven teams that were later inducted into the Siena Heights Hall of Fame.
