Hall of Famer and 2004 graduate Diana (Esterkamp) Noles recently finished her fifth season as head women's basketball coach at her alma mater in 2023-24, following seven previously as the program's full-time lead assistant.
Noles led the Cardinals to within one possession of the OAC Tournament Championship game in 2022-23, as her squad dropped a tough 52-51 semifinal contest at top seed and eventual champion Ohio Northern.
A native of Cincinnati, Noles returned to coaching in the summer of 2012 after taking the previous three years (2008-11) away from the game to start a family. She served as a volunteer assistant for Otterbein during the 2005-06 season before going on to coach two years at Division II Ohio Dominican University (2006-08).
Her Cardinals earned the No. 2 seed in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Tournament during a pandemic-shortened season. That team finished with an 8-5 record, upsetting nationally-ranked and eventual champion John Carroll in the regular-season finale.
A 3x All-OAC performer, Noles is the program’s career leader in assists (674) and also ranks among the top 11 all-time in scoring, rebounding, and steals. She is the only Otterbein women’s basketball player to compile over 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists.
Noles, who had two triple-doubles as a player and ranked top-five nationally in assists three different seasons, finished off her career with an All-American selection in 2004 after guiding the Cardinals to their first 20-win season and a spot in the OAC Tournament championship. She led the program to a record of 72-33 over the course of her four seasons and, as a result of her success, was inducted into the Otterbein Athletics Hall of Fame in 2014.
Noles capped her time as lead assistant coach with Otterbein posting records of 17-10 and 16-11. She advised and mentored multiple All-OAC performers, including standout All-American Dani Kissel... who graduated as the program's second all-time leading scorer.
Noles and her husband, Pat, reside in Galena with their three children: son P.J., along with daughters Charlee and Jayla.
Career Record:
| Year |
Overall |
Conference |
OAC Tournament |
| 2019-20 |
12-14 |
7-11 |
0-1 |
| 2020-21 |
8-5 |
8-4 |
0-1 |
| 2021-22 |
18-7 |
12-5 |
0-1 |
| 2022-23 |
17-10 |
12-6 |
1-1 |
| 2023-24 |
9-16 |
7-11 |
N/A |
| Totals |
64-52 |
46-37 |
1-4 |
