Fala Suiaunoa was named as Northeastern State’s head women’s basketball coach on April 1, 2017.
With ten years of NCAA head coaching experience, Suiaunoa is 132-170 overall.
In her NSU debut, the Suiaunoa and the RiverHawks nearly upended Arkansas and took a four-win improvement from the prior season to put the team in the MIAA postseason.
The RiverHawks in Suiaunoa’s second season at the helm battled through adversity and picked up an early-season win over Azusa Pacific who went onto the Elite 8. Northeastern State set an MIAA record for points in a half and matched a 1981 program record with 126 points in a game against Bacone. The RiverHawks had two players reach 1,000 career points in Cailyn Long and Bailee Eldred, and Joi Bertrand set a program mark with 80 blocks. In the postseason, NSU had three MIAA Honors and Eldred being named Academic All-District.
The 2019-20 season had Cenia Hayes earn her second All-MIAA selection in the postseason, and newcomer Shae Sanchez score her 1,000th career point at Rogers State. With four true-freshman and a key post player sitting out the season, the RiverHawks staged several close contests against one of the most rigid schedules in the nation.
In 2020-21 NSU started strong by winning its first two games in a 6-16 COVID-19 conference-only shortened season. Cenia Hayes and Zaria Collins each earned All-MIAA Honorable Mention recognition following the season. Hayes, the lone four-year player for Suiaunoa, scored her 1,000th point and finished with 1281 for her career.
Northeastern State played six on the MIAA Honor Roll following the 2021-22 season and had one All-Conference selection in MaleeahLangstaff, who was on the MIAA's top scorers and rebounders, averaging 17.3 points and 8.8 boards per game. To highlight the season, the RiverHawks would earn its first win over a No. 5 ranked team at home over Fort Hays State.
Prior to returning to NSU, she has spent four seasons (2013-17) as head coach at NCAA Division II Armstrong State University, where she recorded a career mark of 61-52. In her first season at Armstrong State, she led the Pirates to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history and reached the Sweet 16.
Suiaunoa replaces Randy Gipson who retired at the conclusion of the 2016-17 season after leading the NSU women’s basketball program for 18 years.
Coach Suiaunoa is no stranger to the NSU program, playing for Gipson for two seasons, and was a graduate assistant under Gipson from 2004 to 2006. As a student-athlete, Suiaunoa played in 57 games and NSU went 36-19, winning the 2003 Lone Star Conference Tournament, and made the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth. As a member of Gipson’s coaching staff, NSU reached the Sweet 16 in 2004 and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 2005 and 2006.
At Armstrong State, Suiaunoa has coached five all-conference players, one Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year, and was named PBC Co-Coach of the Year in 2014.
Suiaunoa came to Armstrong State from Central Georgia Technical College in Macon, Ga., where she started the program in 2011 and directed the Cougars to an impressive 25-6 record in just their second season of competition in 2012-13, advancing to the GCAA Championships.
Suiaunoa was the assistant coach as well as the Senior Woman’s Administrator (SWA) at Columbus State for two years. The Cougars featured a WBCA first team All-American selection and compiled a 32-23 record in her two seasons with the program.
Suiaunoa earned her bachelors of science degree in health and human performance from Northeastern State in 2004 as well as her masters of science degree in kinesiology from NSU in 2006.
Following her time at NSU she spent one season as an assistant coach at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College before moving on to NCAA Division II Midwestern State as an assistant coach from 2007-09.
The Irvine, California, native began her intercollegiate career at Irvine Valley College, transferring to Northeastern State as a junior.
| Suiaunoa's Year-By-Year Record as a collegiate head coach |
| Year |
School |
W-L |
Postseason |
| 2021-22 |
Northeastern State |
7-21 |
|
| 2020-21 |
Northeastern State |
6-16 |
|
| 2019-20 |
Northeastern State |
5-21 |
|
| 2018-19 |
Northeastern State |
6-22 |
|
| 2017-18 |
Northeastern State |
10-17 |
MIAA Tournament |
| 2016-17 |
Armstrong State |
10-18 |
|
| 2015-16 |
Armstrong State |
16-12 |
|
| 2014-15 |
Armstrong State |
13-14 |
PBC Tournament |
| 2013-14 |
Armstrong State |
21-8 |
PBC Tournament
NCAA Sweet 16 |
| 2012-13 |
Central Georgia |
25-6 |
GCAA Tournament |
| 2011-12 |
Central Georgia |
13-16 |
GCAA Tournament |
What They Say:
Randy Gipson, Northeastern State University Retired Head Women's Basketball Coach
"I'm excited that Fala will be our next head coach. She possesses many qualities that will serve her well in this position. She is a hard worker with a good grasp of the game and excellent communication skills. Fala's leadership abilities will energize the program immediately. Great choice!"
Noel Johnson, Midwestern State University Head Women's Basketball Coach
"Fala is a coach that leads by example and has great knowledge of our game. Fala is extremely dedicated to the growth of young women and is committed to their success long after she has coached them. She is a proven winner and dynamic leader that is a great addition to the Northeastern State University family and Tahlequah community!"
Maurice Smith, Georgia College Head Women's Basketball Coach
"Coach Fala represents everything that is right about college athletics. Fala is someone I have the upmost respect for as a person and as a coach. She is all about developing her student athletes on and off the court. Her teams are always prepared, play hard, and play with purpose and passion. That's a direct result Fala's leadership. I am excited to see her continue her success at Northeastern State University."
Lisa Sweany, Armstrong State University Director of Athletics
"NSU has hired a quality coach and person in Fala Bullock. Fala is a passionate, driven and intense coach who has the ability to demand a lot from her student-athletes, yet provide important balance with expectations, discipline and encouragement. Her commitment to the total development of young women - from the court to the classroom and beyond - is unparalleled, and she takes great pride in watching her young ladies develop fully under her guidance. I know Coach Bullock is excited to be returning home and, as a strong minded X's and O's coach whose style of play is fast paced, energetic and exciting to watch, I'm confident it will give the RiverHawks fans something to be proud of."
Nate Teymer, Augusta University Head Women's Basketball Coach
"Fala was one of the true competitors in our league. Her teams were always well prepared and played hard for the whole 40 minutes. I have always respected her approach to the game and the energy she coaches with. I feel Fala and Northeastern State is a great fit. The way she cares for and develops her players will make her program a great threat in the MIAA."
