SMU to hire Arizona’s Adia Barnes as next women’s basketball

[AfricanMustang]

SMU has become a destination for coaches across the country, and that was only further reinforced by news of its anticipated next women’s basketball coach.

The Mustangs are expected to hire Arizona’s Adia Barnes to become their next head coach, according to multiple reports. Barnes — who led Arizona to its first national championship game in 2021 where it fell 54-53 to Stanford — would be leaving her alma mater to come to the Hilltop.

Barnes has been Arizona’s head coach since 2016 and led the Wildcats to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in that span. Arizona missed out on the tournament this season in its first year in the Big 12 with a 19-13 record and eighth-place finish in Big 12 play.

Prior to Arizona, she served as an assistant at Washington from 2011-16, and before that, played over a decade professionally, including seven years in the WNBA where she won a championship with Seattle in 2004.

Barnes was also a standout as a player in college. She set 22 individual records at Arizona, including career points and rebounds, and was the first Arizona women’s player to be drafted. She led Arizona to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1997 and was a third-team All-American and the Pac-10 Player of the Year in 1998.

SMU has not made the NCAA Tournament since 2008.

https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/smu-m ... ports-say/

[panhandle_pony]

Will her husband join as assistant ?

[bubba pony]

https://tucson.com/sports/college/baske ... 9d8e2.html

"Barnes was entering the last year of a five-year contract that made her one of the 10 highest-paid women’s basketball coaches in the country. She earned $1.25 million this past season and was set to make $1.3 million next season. By leaving before April 30, she owes the UA a buyout of $300,000."

We got UT president and Maryland atlectic director. SMU is spening lots of money.

[highlander]

GREAT NEWS!!!

[Big Hoss]

Admittedly, I know nothing about women's basketball, but this seems like a great hire. To lure a head coach who was so recently in the national championship game, from another large conference, that also happens to be her alma mater seems to continue to confirm that we have made huge strides.