Photo: ND Athletics
Notre Dame is bringing one of the greatest players in program history back to South Bend — this time, to help shape the next generation of Fighting Irish basketball.
Former All-American Skylar Diggins has been hired as an outside consultant and Special Advisor to Karen & Kevin Keyes Family Head Women’s Basketball Coach Niele Ivey, the program announced Monday. In the role, Diggins will advise Ivey and her coaching staff while mentoring student-athletes away from the court, with an emphasis on leadership, personal development and brand building.
The move reunites Notre Dame with a hometown star whose legacy helped elevate the program onto the national stage.
From Notre Dame Legend to Mentor
Diggins, a South Bend native, returns to her alma mater following her 12th WNBA season. Across her professional career, she has averaged 16.3 points and 5.3 assists per game, earned seven WNBA All-Star selections and captured five gold medals with USA Basketball.
She also won Olympic gold with Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, adding another milestone to an accomplished basketball career.
Her new position will allow her to share that experience directly with Notre Dame’s current players. Rather than focusing solely on on-court development, Diggins will help student-athletes navigate leadership responsibilities, personal growth and the process of building their identities and brands beyond basketball.
Diggins is expected to leave to join her team when the 2027 Unrivaled season begins.
Niele Ivey Welcomes a Legendary Addition
For Ivey, Diggins’ return represents an opportunity to bring an accomplished professional and a familiar face into the program’s daily environment.
“We are honored to welcome Skylar Diggins as our Special Advisor to the Head Coach!” Ivey said. “This is truly a legendary addition.”
Ivey highlighted Diggins’ loyalty to the university, along with her ability to motivate and inspire the players who now wear the same jersey she once did.
She also emphasized that Diggins’ influence will reach beyond basketball, helping strengthen the program’s culture and create opportunities for student-athletes to grow personally and professionally.
“Welcome home, Skylar!” Ivey said.
The partnership brings together two figures with deep ties to Notre Dame and a shared understanding of what it takes to compete at the highest level.
A Career That Helped Define Notre Dame Basketball
Diggins’ return carries particular significance because of what she accomplished in a Notre Dame uniform.
From 2009-13, she helped the Fighting Irish record 130 victories and reach three consecutive NCAA Final Fours from 2011-13. Notre Dame advanced to the national championship game in both 2011 and 2012, establishing itself as one of the premier programs in women’s college basketball.
Diggins earned consensus first-team All-America honors as both a junior and senior. She was named BIG EAST Player of the Year in 2012 and 2013 and won the Nancy Lieberman Award as the nation’s top point guard in consecutive seasons. In 2013, she also received the inaugural Dawn Staley Award.
Her production matched her accolades. Diggins finished her college career with:
2,357 points
745 assists
557 rebounds
381 steals
She graduated as Notre Dame’s all-time leader in points and steals and set or shared 32 school records. At the time of her graduation, her 144 career starts and 121 double-figure scoring performances were also program records.
Diggins was named NCAA Regional Most Outstanding Player three times and helped Notre Dame win consecutive BIG EAST regular-season championships in 2012 and 2013. She also played a key role in the program’s first BIG EAST Tournament championship in 2013.
What Her Return Means for the Fighting Irish
Diggins’ appointment gives Notre Dame more than a celebrated alumna on its staff. It brings in someone who has experienced the full journey from college standout to professional star, international champion and recognizable sports figure.
That perspective could be especially valuable as college athletes navigate expectations that extend beyond performance, including leadership, public visibility and personal branding. Diggins will be able to offer insight into those challenges from the perspective of someone who has spent years competing at the highest levels of the sport.
Her connection to the program also makes the role personal. Diggins helped build Notre Dame’s modern basketball legacy, and now she has an opportunity to help guide the players responsible for its next chapter.
After being selected third overall by the Tulsa Shock in the 2013 WNBA Draft — matching Notre Dame’s highest draft selection at the time — Diggins built a distinguished professional career. Her return offers the Fighting Irish a direct link between that history and the future of the program.
For Notre Dame, the message is clear: a legend is coming home, and her next contribution will be measured not only in points or championships, but in the players she helps prepare for life beyond the game.
Source attribution: Notre Dame Athletics.
