Arizona State has parted ways with Natasha Adair after three seasons of coaching the women’s basketball team.
The need for this change in leadership stems from the team’s failure to make the NCAA tournament in all three seasons under Adair. With an overall record of 29-62 and 7-47 in conference play, her team’s performance has been far from competitive.
Arizona State Looking To Bounce Back
The Sun Devils failed to make significant progress, finishing bottom-two in the Pac-12 in the last two seasons.
After the retirement of longtime Sun Devils head coach Charli Turner Thorne, who left as the winningest coach in program history, Adair was expected to continue the program’s legacy. Instead, her tenure has been marked by struggles and inconsistency.
Following their most recent loss to Iowa State in the second round of the Big 12 tournament, ASU athletic director Graham Rossini decided to take a new approach and is now searching for a replacement.
What ASU Needs in Its Next Head Coach
This ASU team needs a coach capable of rebuilding the program and restoring its competitiveness.
Among other priorities, the Sun Devils must make a statement in the Big 12. To achieve this, the next coach should have a proven track record of success — either as a coach or a former player — and experience in high-level competition.
Top 5 Potential Replacements for Natasha Adair
Briann January
Having worked as an NBA G League assistant coach and with extensive WNBA experience, January has the expertise to lead ASU’s turnaround. As a former Sun Devil standout with 104 career wins, she understands the program’s culture and how to motivate players toward success.
Nikki Blue
Blue previously worked under Turner Thorne as an ASU assistant and played in the WNBA. Her familiarity with the program and recent coaching success make her a strong candidate.
Molly Miller
Having built a strong reputation as head coach at Grand Canyon University, Miller has led the team to multiple winning seasons. Her mid-major-level success suggests she might be a good fit for the job.
Yvonne Sanchez
Like Nikki Blue, Sanchez previously worked as an assistant coach at ASU. She had 77 wins in her five years as head coach at New Mexico. Given her ASU experience and winning resume, she is more than capable of leading the team.
Tonya Cardoza
Cardoza was the head coach at Temple and spent 14 years as an assistant coach at UConn, where she helped secure five national championships. With decades of coaching experience, she has the knowledge and leadership skills to guide ASU to success.
KEEP READING: Why Women’s March Madness Brackets Stay Perfect Longer Than Men’s
Leading the Sun Devils back to relevance will require effort, but the right hire could put the team back on track. ASU needs a coach with the experience and leadership skills to rebuild the team and compete at a high level.
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