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| Kate gets a reminder of her playing days at Stanford. |
It was long expected, but now it’s confirmed. Kate
Paye is the new head coach of the Stanford women’s basketball team following
the retirement of Tara VanDerveer.
She was officially introduced at a press conference
April 17.
In his introduction, athletic director Bernard Muir
joked that “this has been an exhaustive search.” He then gave the 1995 Stanford
graduate the No. 3 jersey from her playing days.
During the question period that followed her
prepared remarks, Kate said that Jeanette Pohlen, ’11, director of player
development for the past two years, will move to the coaches’ bench as an
assistant.
Jeanette will join returning coaches Katy Steding, Tempie
Brown and Erica “Bird” McCall. There was no word on who will take her player
development job.
The press conference was attended by Kate’s family,
the coaches and Tara, the staff and the nine returning players plus the
graduating Hannah Jump.
Kiki Iriafen, who has entered the transfer portal,
wasn’t there. Asked if her destination is known, Tempie said it wasn’t but that
“we’re working on it” in seeing if she will return.
Since next season’s team will again have 12 players,
including the three incoming freshmen, theoretically three slots are open,
assuming that Kiki doesn’t return. Kate said that she and her staff plan to use
the portal when possible but won’t build on it. They want players who value an
education, she said.
In her prepared remarks, Kate said, “This is an
exciting day for me and my family.”
Tara is retiring, and Kate is succeeding her.
She pledged to “work tirelessly every day,” as she
thanked the many people who have helped her and the program. She thanked Tara
for all her contributions to the program and women’s basketball and “for
entrusting me with your life’s work.” She also thanked retired associate head
coach Amy Tucker, whom she called a “coach, mentor and friend.”
Completing her remarks, she said. “We’re not going
to change for the sake of change. … We will play Stanford basketball.”
Responding to questions, she looked ahead to the
challenges of next season, when Stanford will move from the Pac-12 Conference
to the Atlantic Coast Conference, which has a preponderance of eastern teams,
“We will figure it out.”
She hopes to play more pre-season games on the West
Coast. When it’s time to travel to distant schools, class loads will be
adjusted and players will likely study on the plane.
A reception in the Hall of Champions followed the
press conference. Looking over the room were two lighted signs hailing her as
the new head coach.
Stanford Athletics photos
