The Husky Haul
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Five Candidates Washington Huskies Women’s Basketball Team Coaching Search

By Bret Stuter

Sep 17, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; The Washington Huskies cheerleaders run out of the tunnel before the start of a game against the Portland State Vikings at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; The Washington Huskies cheerleaders run out of the tunnel before the start of a game against the Portland State Vikings at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 24, 2017; Lexington, KY, USA; A view of the NCAA Women’s Regional logo on an official Wilson basketball prior to the game of the Texas Longhorns against the Stanford Cardinal in the semifinals of the Lexington Regional of the women’s 2017 NCAA Tournament at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2017; Lexington, KY, USA; A view of the NCAA Women’s Regional logo on an official Wilson basketball prior to the game of the Texas Longhorns against the Stanford Cardinal in the semifinals of the Lexington Regional of the women’s 2017 NCAA Tournament at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Perhaps PAC-12?

Perhaps the interest of the next hire is more regional? If so, there are plenty of qualified coaches who are prepared to take the next step.  And perhaps none more so than Stanford University’s Kate Paye.

Paye brings a diverse background. After college, she did play professionally before returning to the college stage as an assistant coach for Pepperdine.

Paye’s Forte? Defense.

Paye’s expertise has been the outstanding defense of her team. Per GoStanford.com website:

"“Paye, who earned the Cardinal’s “Best Defensive Player” award in 1994, has played a vital role in shaping a dominant and aggressive Stanford defense over the past nine seasons. Stanford has held its opponents to its six lowest-scoring seasons over the last nine years and its five lowest shooting percentages, highlighted by all-time lows of 51.9 points per game and a 31.6 field-goal percentage in 2012-13.”"

Defense is a particularly difficult skill to coach in NCAA basketball. Young players want to score. It takes a special coach to focus them on defending.

Don’t Leave Out Recruiting

Paye also excels at recruiting. In her current role with Stanford, she is very versed in the west coast and Pacific Northwest regions.   She has only recently been promoted to associate head coach, and the 2016-2017 season for the Stanford Cardinals’s success proves Paye is ready to take on the full reigns as head coach.

While she has strong ties to Stanford University, this is the right time for her to assume a head coaching role.  The opportunity to become the head coach of the University of Washington Huskies Women’s Basketball Team would be an incredible step for her.

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