Sunday Chat is a weekly feature appearing in The Blade’s print and digital platforms each Sunday.
Kadie Hempfling wanted to take a little break from basketball after a historic career at Bowling Green State University.
It didn’t take the former Falcon long to find herself back in the game that she loves.
Hempfling, the only player in BGSU women’s basketball history with at least 1,000 points, 700 rebounds, and 400 assists, returned to the sidelines as an assistant coach at NCAA Division III Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio. She recently completed her first season with the Polar Bears, who finished 19-8 overall and runner-up to Baldwin Wallace in the Ohio Athletic Conference regular-season standings and tournament under coach Mark Huelsman.
Hempfling, a 5-foot-9 forward during her playing days from 2018 to 2023, ranks first in BGSU history in career games played (155) and fifth in games started (122). She ranks 18th with 1,281 points, eighth with 809 rebounds, sixth with 432 assists, and 18th with 166 steals.
That came after a stellar prep career at Ottawa-Glandorf High School where she led the Titans to four OHSAA state tournament appearances and finished as the school’s career leader in points (1,231), assists (442), and steals (370) while ranking third in rebounds (712).
Hempfling was key in helping former BGSU coach and current Michigan State mentor Robyn Fralick establish her expectations and develop a winning culture. Fralick was hired as BGSU’s coach in April, 2018, after Hempfling had committed to the previous coaching staff.
The Blade caught up with Hempfling to talk about her basketball career.
The Blade: What was this first season as an assistant at ONU like for you?
Hempfling: “It was a great experience. I felt like I learned a lot. It was definitely different being on the other side, but I also absolutely loved it. I love being around the game. For those who knew me as a player, I have the same energy as I did as a player as a coach, so it’s a lot of fun for me. I bring a lot of passion, a lot of energy, enthusiasm. I think being at Ohio Northern, it’s such a great institution as well. Coaching under Mark has been great. I feel like he’s teaching me a lot of things and opening my eyes, especially at this level, because I’m not so familiar with it. But that’s one of the learning curves that comes along with it.”
The Blade: Is coaching something that you really wanted to get into after your playing career?
Hempfling: “Yes and no. I always knew somehow, someway I’d still be involved with the game. But right after my fifth year at BG, I decided not to just because I just wanted to take a step away for a little bit, kind of reset. I went into the corporate world for a little bit, decided I absolutely missed the game — surprise, surprise, right? — and I wanted to be involved. So I was like ‘Why not try to take this journey right now?’ I’m young enough that I didn’t mind where I was going to end up at all, but it so happened that it was Ohio Northern. It’s close to home, which has been great.”
The Blade: You came to BGSU despite a coaching change. With how relevant the transfer portal is nowadays, what’s your biggest piece of advice as far as trusting a new coaching staff?
Hempfling: “I think it has to do with relationships. I think it has to do with building that trust, building that foundation, and I think coach Fralick, regardless of what was going to happen, I was going to stay at Bowling Green. I loved Bowling Green, but then of course, I loved coach Fralick and our staff as well. But getting to know them, it was a great experience, for sure, and I think knowing that they care about who I am as a person first and then a basketball player was something that really was like ‘Oh, this is different.’ I don’t feel like a lot of players get this experience, so I try to do that when I’m coaching as well, like care about them as people first and then basketball player second.”
The Blade: Fralick has had some immediate success at Michigan State, thoughts on what she’s been able to accomplish right away at the Big Ten level?
Hempfling: “I’m not going to lie, I’m not surprised. She does it the right way, and I think she doesn’t realize the impact she has on the people around her, especially me. If I ever have a question or anything, I reach out to her or I try to be like ‘OK, similar situation, what would coach have done’ or something along those lines. But I think her immediate success in the Big Ten comes from her culture and core values, and she lives them. The same person you get on the court is the same person you see in everyday life, so I think that all of her relationships are personal as well. Nothing to her is transactional, which is amazing to see, especially at that level with NIL and everything like that and the transfer portal. But she sticks to her core values, who she is as a person, and who she is as a coach. I think that’s really admirable, especially in this day and age.”
The Blade: You’ve been to some BGSU games the past couple years, what’s it like for you when you’re back in the Stroh Center and watching the team under coach Fred Chmiel?
Hempfling: “I love going back. BG will always hold a special place in my heart, I love Bowling Green. I think Bowling Green is Bowling Green because of the community, because of the people. I just love going back because I’m welcomed back with open arms, whether it’s coach Chmiel and staff or if my old coaching staff was there, too. It’d be the same thing, so I really appreciate that when I do go back, I feel very welcomed. I think coach Chmiel’s doing a great job there. The [Mid-American Conference] is a tough league, and we all know it, so I think we’ve just got to give him a little more time. Of course, I wish them nothing but the best because that’s my alma mater. But I definitely love going back, especially like seeing Lexi [Fleming] play again this year. That was so fun, and I was there for her first game back [from injury]. Being able to see Amy [Velasco] play, she was balling out this year, so it was just really cool to see my former teammates and best friends play as well.”
First Published March 30, 2025, 12:30 p.m.
