John Motherwell officially joined the Seattle U women's basketball team ahead of the 2025-26 season.
“I’m excited to welcome Coach Mo to Seattle University and our program,” Young shared, “He brings an unwavering work ethic and a vast amount of experience. John is an exceptional recruiter, known from coast to coast. He has a proven ability to bring a whole person development mentality to any program, which will make him a great mentor for our players in showing them how to not only be successful student-athletes, but successful people.”
Motherwell spent the last two seasons as North Dakota’s primary recruiting coordinator, as part of his second stint with UND having been with the program in the 2010-11 season. He acted as the program’s associate head coach from 2018-23 before returning to the team prior to the 2023-24 season. Motherwell was an essential part of North Dakota’s 2022-23 post season run to the WBI having finished third in the Summit League that year.
Prior to his return to Grand Forks, Motherwell coached at West Florida, Detroit Mercy, Minnesota, and Valparaiso before serving as Finlandia University’s head coach during the 2017-18 season. He began his coaching career at the high school level in Michigan before coaching one year stints at Concordia (St. Paul, Minn.) and College of St. Scholastica.
Motherwell then spent five seasons at Minnesota State-Moorhead (2000-05) before coaching at Milwaukee from 2005-10. While with MSU-Moorhead, Motherwell helped orchestrate the program’s 180 shift, leading the Dragons to five straight winning seasons after seven straight losing years. In his final season with MSU-Moorhead, the Dragons captured a program record 24 wins, its first conference title in 20 years and an D-II NCAA Tournament berth.
At Milwaukee, the Panthers were tabbed Co-Horizon League regular season champions in his first season. They secured the conference championship and an NCAA Tournament berth that same year. While there, he mentored two Horizon League Players of the Year. Following Milwaukee, Motherwell joined the UND staff.
Motherwell spent two seasons at Minnesota (2014-16), guiding the Golden Gophers to 43 wins and an NCAA Tournament appearance. He coached two First Team All-Americans and six WNBA draft picks during his tenure in the Twin Cities.
The Michigan native lettered in football at Eastern Michigan before earning his Bachelor’s degree in General Studies from Michigan in 1995. Motherwell is married to wife Sherri, and the pair have two kids, Annie and Joe.
“I’m excited to welcome Coach Mo to Seattle University and our program,” Young shared, “He brings an unwavering work ethic and a vast amount of experience. John is an exceptional recruiter, known from coast to coast. He has a proven ability to bring a whole person development mentality to any program, which will make him a great mentor for our players in showing them how to not only be successful student-athletes, but successful people.”
Motherwell spent the last two seasons as North Dakota’s primary recruiting coordinator, as part of his second stint with UND having been with the program in the 2010-11 season. He acted as the program’s associate head coach from 2018-23 before returning to the team prior to the 2023-24 season. Motherwell was an essential part of North Dakota’s 2022-23 post season run to the WBI having finished third in the Summit League that year.
Prior to his return to Grand Forks, Motherwell coached at West Florida, Detroit Mercy, Minnesota, and Valparaiso before serving as Finlandia University’s head coach during the 2017-18 season. He began his coaching career at the high school level in Michigan before coaching one year stints at Concordia (St. Paul, Minn.) and College of St. Scholastica.
Motherwell then spent five seasons at Minnesota State-Moorhead (2000-05) before coaching at Milwaukee from 2005-10. While with MSU-Moorhead, Motherwell helped orchestrate the program’s 180 shift, leading the Dragons to five straight winning seasons after seven straight losing years. In his final season with MSU-Moorhead, the Dragons captured a program record 24 wins, its first conference title in 20 years and an D-II NCAA Tournament berth.
At Milwaukee, the Panthers were tabbed Co-Horizon League regular season champions in his first season. They secured the conference championship and an NCAA Tournament berth that same year. While there, he mentored two Horizon League Players of the Year. Following Milwaukee, Motherwell joined the UND staff.
Motherwell spent two seasons at Minnesota (2014-16), guiding the Golden Gophers to 43 wins and an NCAA Tournament appearance. He coached two First Team All-Americans and six WNBA draft picks during his tenure in the Twin Cities.
The Michigan native lettered in football at Eastern Michigan before earning his Bachelor’s degree in General Studies from Michigan in 1995. Motherwell is married to wife Sherri, and the pair have two kids, Annie and Joe.