As The University of Washington Huskies must transition from the incredible 2016-2017 record breaking season to focus on a new head coach. Here are five prospects
On one hand, University of Washington Huskies Women’s Basketball Team head coach Mike Neighbors has returned home to Arkansas. In the process, he bumped his salary up to $600,000 per year. On the other hand, his replacement will likely come in at or just under that amount.
But the Washington Huskies Women’s team are losing players too. In fact, the Huskies are also saying their farewells to seniors in All-American Kelsey Plum, Chantel Osahor and Katie Collier. On one hand, roster spots need to be filled. On the other hand, the Huskies must hire staff and recruit by September 2017. Ultimately, the Washington Huskies Women’s Basketball Team already knew the 2016-2017 season would be a difficult act to follow. In fact, it may be next to impossible.
But for now, first things first. The team needs a new coach. Where to start?
Some Candidates
Well, let’s examine several prospects for the position and see how they stack up in comparison.
Morgan Valley, Assistant Coach, Washington University
Johnnie Harris, Associate Head Coach, Mississippi State University
Kate Paye, Associate Head Coach, Stanford University
Lisa Boyer Associate Head Coach, South Carolina
Marisa Moseley, Assistant Coach, University of Connecticut
So what does the team need in terms of a head coach? Let’s begin by exploring the criteria, also known as the job description:
Husky Head Coach Characteristics
As a matter of fact, the consensus for any head coaching position lists these key fundamental qualities:
- I: Ability to recruit the nation’s top talent to the program
- II: Basketball Acumen. Must possess a superior understanding of basketball, but must be
able to impress that knowledge, wisdom, and work ethic upon team’s players - III: Mentor young athletes. Team building, discipline, motivation, high energy/
And so, that covers the basics. All the while, there could be an item or two added along the way, but for now that is a good framework. But this is as good a time as any to talk about the elephant in the room.
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Gender Bias Gets National Headlines
Right now, NCAA Women’s basketball is ablaze over recent comments made by University of Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma. In a March 30, 2017 press conference covered by the Associated Press, Aruiemma made a very controversial statement:
"“There’s a reason why there’s not as many opportunities for women. Not as many women want to coach. It’s not like people are consciously depriving women of opportunities.”- UConn head coach Geno Auriemma"
That comment generated the expected negative responses from activists, but the answer to resolving the matter is not as clear cut as one might expect. The University of Washington can help in the matter by amplifying the search for female candidates. Thankfully, the PAC-12 conference has drastically outpaced the nation regarding this issue, with just two of the current coaching positions held by men.
Promote From Within
Nothing builds team morale more rapidly than promoting an assistant coach to the head coaching position. Doing so immediately removes the awkward introductions of players and coaching staff to the new head coach. That familiarity allows both team and players to fast track to the real order of business: practicing basketball.
With the First Pick
As a matter of fact, second year assistant coach Morgan Valley would bring all of those positives in filling the head coaching role. Valley started her coaching career at U Conn under Geno Auriemma as a student assistant. Her career brought her to Holy Cross for two seasons (2005-07), Towson, New Hampshire, and the University of Massachusetts for four seasons (2010-14) and eventually Virginia Tech.
Player Turned Coach
Valley sprang from the ranks of players, helping her team set a then-record 70-straight games at UConn to go with the three national titles.
Although she was a guard when she played, her work with the Washington Huskies has been in the front court. She was integral in help Chantel Osahor dominate the boards for the Huskies. From the aspects of experience with the Washington Huskies as well as coaching experience, Valley brings quite a bit to the table. She knows the players, the landscape, and the competition. The only question, and the biggest question, is whether she is up for the challenge of head coaching.
If You Beat Them, Join Them
The Mississippi State Women’s Basketball Team had a great strategy heading into the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. The strategy was a simple one. Start reserve players, then swing in starters in the second and fourth quarters.
Betsided
If the opponent kept starters in the game, the Bulldogs would simply wear them down. If the opponents rotated players, the starters would outplay and out-hustle the opponents. In either case, Mississippi State emerged the victor.
That strategic thinking places Mississippi State assistant head coach on this list if no other reason exists. The same Bulldogs then advanced and ended U Conn’s incredible winning streak at 111 games.
Time To Soar
Johnnie Harris is an accomplished assistant coach as part of head coach Vic Shaefer’s staff for five seasons. Per the Mississippi State Athletics website, Harris excels both at coaching and at recruiting.
"“Not only was it her on-court coaching ability that put her atop Schaefer’s list of coaches, but it was her reputation as one of the nation’s premier recruiters.”"
But she has been coaching for 20 years as an assistant. After this season’s unprecedented success, it is now or never to strike out on her own. She scores very high on all three areas for the UW Huskies Women’s head coaching position. She joined the Bulldogs and they ended at 13-17 in her first year. But each subsequent season, the team soared higher and higher.
Now it is Harris’ chance to soar.
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.
Cream Of The Crop?
Any Women’s basketball head coach must include the name Lisa Boyer. She is the associate head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks, the team which won the NCAA Women’s Tournament this year.
Busting Brackets
Boyer has a venerable career, beginning in coaching in 1981. Since that time, she has held positions with twelve separate colleges, as well as a volunteer assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2001. She has been the head coach twice, and has served as the associate head coach at South Carolina since 2010. If you want experience, you want Lisa Boyer.
And on top of everything else, Boyer heads South Carolina’s recruiting, and she has a solid understanding of basketball analytics.
Success Finds Boyer
Wherever Boyer appears, the team finds success. She helped Temple find the NCAA tournament. More recently, she has helped the Gamecocks to five straight seasons of 25 plus wins. In an interview on Gamecocksonline.com, her head coach Dawn Staley had this to say:
"“Having Lisa on our staff says a lot because she could be a head coach in her own right,” Staley said. “I strive for perfection. If you don’t have the knowledge to accomplish perfection, then you get somebody who has that knowledge to pass it along to you. When I started in coaching, Lisa was that person for me. I wore her down because I knew I needed her. I trust her with my life, and I knew I could trust her with my career, not just as a coach, but as an administrator, a manager and overall as a person.” – Dawn Staley"
And so, the message from Staley is clear. Boyer is ready for a head coaching position.
What About Upgrading A Husky To A Real Husky?
After all is said and done, nobody has achieved anything in NCAA Women’s basketball like the University of Connecticut Huskies Women’s Basketball team. As a matter of fact, any sport in recent history for that matter. So perhaps, the search should focus on that Huskies team?
Amidst that success, seven year assistant coach Marisa Moseley stands out from the rest. In fact, she has been active in recruitment, player development, and coaching at the University of Connecticut. She has been with the Connecticut Huskies since the 2009-2010 season. Over that period, she has helped coach a flawless Huskies team to the 111 consecutive wins.
Streak Over, Time To Change Trains
Now that the streak is history, Moseley becomes the ideal candidate for a head coaching job. She has been a member of one of the most successful coaching staffs in any sport of all times. That unto itself gives her reason to be interviewed.
Sustaining a winning streak of that magnitude requires more than occasional chats with the head coach to keep the team’s players focused. After all, Moseley remained instrumental throughout each win. In fact, she continuted to push success to the back and point players to the next team and the next challenge.
At seven years, perhaps Moseley has an itch to lead her own team now? If so, she would be an ideal head coach for the Washington Huskies.
Next: Should Washington Huskies Target Missouri Guard Transfers?
On one hand, the University of Washington Huskies Women’s Basketball team must find an ideal head coach to pick up where former head coach Mike Neighbors left off. On the other hand, there are quite a few qualified coaching candidates out there. In conclusion, I’ve identified five such head coach candidates.