University of Southern Mississippi staff member Taryn Barz is Central College’s new varsity assistant women’s basketball coach.

First-year head coach Moran Lonning helped coach Barz during her playing career at Simpson College, where she graduated in 2017. Lonning was a Simpson assistant from 2016-22. Barz was a four-year letterwinner and served as a Simpson team captain.

Barz has served as director of operations for the Southern Mississippi softball program since 2020 after spending the 2018-19 year in a similar position at Belmont University (Tenn.). She also interned with the Nashville Soccer Club.

A Hampton, Iowa native, Barz is a graduate of Hampton-Dumont High School. Barz joins a Dutch women’s basketball staff that also includes Essance Porter, who was recently added as junior varsity coach.