Garber

Jeni Garber

  • Title
    Women's Basketball Head Coach / Senior Woman Administrator
  • Email
    garbeje@quincy.edu
  • Phone
    (217) 228-5432, Ext. 3520
Jeni Garber is in her tenth season (2020-2021) as head coach of the Quincy University women's basketball team. This is also her fourth year serving as the athletic department's Senior Woman Administrator. 

Garber has led the Hawks to three NCAA Tournament appearances at the helm and has a career record of 113-88 through seven seasons. The Hawks reached at least 22 wins in each of the three NCAA Tournament seasons in 2011-12, 2013-14 and 2015-16.

Garber's Hawks matched the fourth-most wins in program history when they went 25-6 overall and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2015-16. The No. 22-ranked Hawks upset No. 4-ranked Lewis in the semifinals of the GLVC Tournament, 59-54, in St. Charles, Mo. that season before falling in the conference title game to Bellarmine. 

Garber guided the Hawks to a 23-7 finish in her third season including an NCAA Tournament win against Northern Michigan.  QU started the 2013-14 season on an eight-game win streak and rattled off another 12 in a row later in the season. QU had key wins against nationally ranked No. 7 Drury University and No. 23-ranked Indianapolis. The Hawks finished the season with a 14-4 record in the GLVC.  The 2013-14 Hawks hold the season record for best team free-throw percentage in school history (.768).

Garber led the Hawks to a 14-13 record in her second season. QU finished conference play 12-6 to finish second in the GLVC West Division and clinch a first round bye in the GLVC Tournament. The Hawks lost to Wisconsin-Parkside in the quarterfinals of the GLVC Tournament.

Garber had instant success with the Hawks basketball program in her first season as head coach. Garber led the squad to a 22-8 record, winning the Great Lakes Valley Conference West Division. The Hawks also finished with a 15-3 record in GLVC play. Quincy made its second consecutive NCAA Division II appearance as Garber was named the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Division II Coach of the Year.

Garber previously served as an assistant coach at Division I Bradley University for the last 11 seasons and was the longest tenured assistant coach in program history. While at Bradley, Garber was a key recruiter, helping bring in four First Team All-Conference players, and handled the scheduling duties while assisting in scouting duties. During Garber’s time at Bradley the Braves set a program record with 21 wins in the 2008-09 season and advanced to the Missouri Valley Conference tournament semi-finals for just the second time in program history.

Prior to Bradley, Garber served on the coaching staff at Minnesota State- Mankato and at the University of Missouri. She served as a graduate assistant at East Tennessee State, where she earned her master’s of science degree, and graduated from Virginia Tech in 1991. Garber spent two seasons as head coach at Normal West High school, from 1998-2000, where she helped her team to back-to-back 19-win seasons before joining the staff at Bradley University.

Garber, originally from Metamora, Illinois, had a standout playing career, leading Virginia Tech in scoring as a senior and serving as team captain. She was named to the Metro Conference All-Rookie team as a junior and earned Second Team All-Conference honors as a senior. Prior to Virginia Tech Garber played two years at Illinois Central College where she earned Second Team All-American honors.