Ferris State University women's basketball head coach Kurt Westendorp, who led FSU to the program's first Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament Championship last season, has reloaded his coaching staff for the upcoming 2022-23 campaign with the appointment of two assistant coaches.

Westendorp has tabbed former NCAA Division I standout La'Karis Salter as the program's full-time assistant while longtime prep head coach Scott Carlson will also join the coaching staff. 

"The Bulldog family is getting bigger and stronger with the new additions of Coach Salter and Coach Carlson to the coaching staff," said Westendorp. "Both of these coaches will make immediate impacts on our student-athletes as we strive to build on our recent success. They are proven winners and put an emphasis on helping our student-athletes develop both on and off the court."

Salter most recently served as an assistant coach last season at Olivet College after beginning her coaching career on the staff at the University of Texas-Permian Basin. She was ranked as the nation's #89 recruit as a player coming out of high school by ESPN and HoopGurlz.

During her collegiate career, Salter saw action as a student-athlete at three different institutions on the NCAA Division I level in Mississippi State, Jacksonville University and Ole Miss. 

"I'm excited to have Coach Salter joining the Bulldogs," said Westendorp. "Coach Salter is going to be a rising star in the game and we're fortunate to have her on our coaching staff. She brings a wealth of experience as both a coach and player that she will be able to share with our student-athletes. La'Karis will primarily be working with our post players and will be heavily involved in organizing our recruiting efforts."

Carlson, who most recently worked as the director of scouting and student-athlete development at Western Michigan University last season, previously served as the head varsity girls basketball coach at Kent City High School from 2009-21. He compiled a 229-50 record as a prep head coach and led his team to 10 league championships, 10 district titles, two regional championships and a state runner-up finish. In addition, a total of 10 of his players went on to play collegiately. 

"I'm thrilled to welcome Coach Carlson to our program," Westendorp said. "Coach Carlson is one of the best in the business in player development and our team will greatly benefit from his expertise. We will be having Coach Carlson work primarily with our perimeter players and contribute in the areas of scouting and recruiting." 

The Bulldog women's basketball program captured both the GLIAC North Division Regular-Season Championship and also the GLIAC Tournament Championship this past season. The postseason tournament title was the Bulldogs' first in school history. The Bulldogs' 22 wins fell one shy of matching the school single-season mark for victories in a campaign.