Colorado University Athletics
Payne Listed as a Candidate for College Coach of the Year
February 15, 2023 | Women's Basketball
She is one of 15 coaches on the late season watch list
ATLANTA – Colorado bench boss JR Payne was one of 15 head coaches from across the country listed as potential candidates for the 2023 Werner Ladder Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year Award by the Atlanta Tipoff Club on Wednesday.
Four of the most recent six winners of this award are included in this year's candidates. Geno Auriemma (UConn), Lisa Bluder (Iowa), Dawn Staley (South Carolina), and Tara VanDerveer (Stanford) are all previous winners.
Payne has led the No. 21 Buffs to a 20-5 record this season, including an 11-3 conference mark. The Buffs, who were projected to finish eighth in the Pac-12 preseason polls, have exceeded those expectations and are currently positioned as the No. 3 seed in the Pac-12.
Colorado has spent four weeks in the AP Top 25 this season and reached its highest position this week (21) since Dec. 26, 2016, when the team climbed to No. 20. The Buffs have three top-15 wins this season, defeated then No. 8 Utah, No. 14 Arizona and No. 8 UCLA.
The Werner Ladder Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year award will be narrowed to 10 semifinalists on Wednesday, March 8. The Fan Vote to narrow the field from 10 candidates to four on Monday, March 20. The Fan Vote to help narrow the list down to the final honoree will open Tuesday, March 21, and close Tuesday, March 28. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, March 29 at the Women's Final Four in Dallas.
"The Werner Ladder Naismith College Women's Coach of the Year award has historically been a highly competitive race every season, and this year is no different," said Eric Oberman, executive director of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. "This is a balanced group of former winners, longtime coaches and a few who are just making a strong name for themselves and their programs."
"We're excited to recognize each of these coaches for their outstanding leadership and for coaching their teams to successful seasons thus far," said Stacy Gardella, head of Global Marketing Technology & Operations at WernerCo. "We could not be more proud to honor the coaches on this watch list, and we wish them the best for the rest of their seasons."
2023 Werner Ladder Naismith Women's College Coach of The Year Late Season Watch List
|
FULL NAME |
CONFERENCE |
SCHOOL |
|
Geno Auriemma |
BIG EAST |
UConn |
|
Lisa Bluder |
Big Ten |
Iowa |
|
Kenny Brooks |
ACC |
Virginia Tech |
|
Denise Dillon |
BIG EAST |
Villanova |
|
Lisa Fortier |
WCC |
Gonzaga |
|
Shauna Green |
Big Ten |
Illinois |
|
Niele Ivey |
ACC |
Notre Dame |
|
Kara Lawson |
ACC |
Duke |
|
Kevin McGuff |
Big Ten |
Ohio State |
|
Teri Moren |
Big Ten |
Indiana |
|
Kim Mulkey |
SEC |
LSU |
|
Pac-12 |
Colorado |
|
|
Lynne Roberts |
Pac-12 |
Utah |
|
Dawn Staley |
SEC |
South Carolina |
|
Tara VanDerveer |
Pac-12 |
Stanford |
