PELLA—A former player at Upper Iowa University and Division I Oakland University (Mich.), Helen Staley is the new varsity assistant women's basketball coach at Central College.
           
Staley comes to Central after spending the 2025-26 season at NAIA Dakota Wesleyan University (S.D.) as a graduate assistant coach. The Tigers went 29-7 before losing in the NAIA semifinals. She served as the head coach of the junior varsity team.
           
In three seasons with the Peacocks, Staley appeared in 56 matches started 42 times. She scored 337 points and grabbed 194 rebounds. She played during her freshman season at Oakland, appearing in 27 games and scoring 29 points.
           
Staley was a member of the 22^nd "So You Want To Be A Coach Program," hosted by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association in April of 2025. Participants were shown the administrative side of coaching, recruiting, skill development, knowing the rules and how to balance work and life.
           
She joins a Central program coming off as 12-14 campaign and sixth-place finish in the American Rivers Conference. The Dutch made back-to-back appearances in the A-R-C Championships during a full season since 2004-05 and 2003-04.