Fargo Shanley's Emily Dietz nearing end of 7-season run with Bison women's basketball program

The Fargo Shanley graduate has been a fixture on the Bison bench for seven seasons, five as a player and two as a graduate student manager. That run is coming to an end once this season is complete.

“I’ve kind of already tried to predict what kind of fan I’m going to be in the stands. I have this fear that I’m going to be calling out ball-screen defense," Dietz said with a laugh. “I’m excited to continue to be a Bison fan for the rest of my life.”

The Bison (21-11) play Montana (23-9) in the second round of the Women's NIT at time, date and location to be determined. NDSU received a first-round bye in the tournament. Once this season ends, Dietz will move on from the program to a yet to be determined career. She would like to remain in the Midwest and also stay involved in basketball in some capacity.

The 24-year-old Dietz will leave NDSU with three degrees.

“I will have a few degrees to jump into the workforce with," said Dietz, who is finishing her master's degrees in communications. “I’m excited for what opportunities present themself.”

For now the focus is on finishing off this season in which the Bison advanced to the Summit League tournament title game for the first time in program history.

“Continuing to watch our program trend in an upward direction has been amazing," Dietz said.

Dietz played for the Bison from 2017-2022 and played 131 games over those five seasons, including 111 starts. She finished her career with 1,142 points before moving to a support staff position on the NDSU coaching staff.

“Not only was she a good player, but she was a fantastic teammate," said Bison head coach Jory Collins, who also coached Dietz for three seasons. “For her to get to be a part of this and kind of see the fruition of what she started when we first got here has been great.”

While it was more emotional when her playing career came to an end with the Bison, moving on after this season also won't be easy.

“It will still be hard," Dietz said. "It has been my home for seven years. ... Most of all I think I will have a lot of gratitude in my heart for what I’ve been able to experience here.”

The Bison won nine games in 2017-2018, which was Dietz's first in the program. She has played a role in helping the program ascend since, whether on the court or from the bench.

NDSU has been the No. 2 seed for the Summit League tournament the past two seaons. The Bison won 18 games last season and followed that with 20-plus wins this season.

While Dietz joined the program prior to Collins becoming the head coach for the 2019-2020 season, she wanted to be part of helping the Bison ascend once again.

“The conversation was we want this program to turn into something," Dietz said. "We want to go back to its former glory."

Bison sophomore guard Elle Evans said Dietz has been an "amazing person to have around" the past two seasons.

“You can tell how much she loves basketball and loves Bison basketball and wants the world for this program," said Evans, who is averaging 15.3 points per game. "To have someone like that on the staff and to be around us every single day is just huge for us. We’re playing for ourselves, but we’re playing for people like her.”

Dietz said the past two seasons have given her a chance to pay forward what she learned during her five seasons as a player for the Bison.

“What can I do to pass that on to the next generation?" Dietz said. “It’s fun to be able to work with our team. ... We have such great kids."