JR Payne Year-By-Year Coaching Record Overall Conference Season School Wlpct

Second Head Coach JR Payne Season

JR Payne enters her second Santa Clara’s first win at its Bay Area rival in 32 years; it was season as head coach at the the second win on what would become a 12-game winning University of Colorado in streak. It was just one of seven regular-season setbacks for 2017-18. She was named the Cardinal, which advanced to the Elite Eight. The Broncos the eighth head women's defeated Gonzaga 59-58 in the quarterfinal round of the basketball coach in program WCC tourney before falling in the semifinals to BYU, an history on March 28, 2016. eventual No. 7 seed in the NCAA tournament.

In her first year in 2016-17, The Broncos were one of the nation’s top defensive teams, Payne guided the Buffs to allowing opponents just 37 percent shooting (40th in the one of the best single-season NCAA) and 58.4 points per game (54th), while forcing 21.7 turnarounds in school history turnovers (sixth) and averaging 12.6 steals (third); Santa as they more than doubled Clara was also 29th in rebound margin (+7.2). their win total from the previous year. CU finished the In two seasons at Santa Clara, she compiled a 34-27 overall year 17-16 overall and tied for record. Her first team upset LSU 69-67, the school’s first win ninth in the Pac-12, a year after a last-place finish in the over an SEC school in 18 years, and advanced to the second conference. The Buffs also reached the third round of the round of the WCC tournament. WNIT, their first postseason appearance since 2014. Her first head coaching position was at Southern Utah Throughout the 2016-17, Colorado was impressive. CU University (Cedar City), where in five seasons, the started the season 10-0 for just the fifth time in school history, Thunderbirds posted a 67-86 record, including a 23-10 mark including a win over No. 15/19 Kentucky. She became just in 2013-14 that set a school record for wins. That team was the second CU coach to begin her career with 10 straight also 15-5 in league play, earning a share of the Big Sky wins and the first since 1980. The 10-game winning streak Conference’s regular season title, and earned SUU’s first- was the longest since 2012. In Pac-12 play, the Buffs’ ever invitation to postseason play, the women’s NIT. signature win came on Feb. 12 when they upset No. 24 California on the road, their first win over a ranked team on the road since 2007.

Three players earned postseason awards from the Pac-12, including first-team all-conference sophomore Kennedy Leonard, who was among the conference and national leaders in scoring, assists, steals and assist/turnover ratio. Haley Smith and Alexis Robinson were both named honorable mention all-Pac-12 and Smith was also honorable mention for the All-Defensive team.

In 2015-16, the season prior to Payne’s arrival, CU went just 7-23. By reaching eight wins in the eighth game of the 2016- 17 season, it was the earliest in a season CU had exceeded its previous season’s win total in the modern era (since 1978- 79).

The Buffs’ big turnaround was keyed by the team’s ball control, ability to turn others over, and scoring. Colorado finished the 2016-17 season 12th in the nation in steals and 22nd in turnover margin. After averaging just 61.9 points in 2015-16, good for 218th nationally, the Buffs cracked the top 100 in the nation in scoring in 2016-17, finishing 90th at 68.9 points per game.

Payne joined Colorado after leading Santa Clara to its first winning record in eight years. Santa Clara was 23-9 this in 2015-16, tying for third in the West Coast Conference with a 13-5 league mark. The Broncos’ season ended with a 59-53 loss at Fresno State in the first round of the Women’s NIT, the school’s first postseason appearance in 10 seasons. SCU was down by 11 at one point but rallied to tie the game at 52- all with just under four minutes to go before falling to the Bulldogs.

One of the wins included a 61-58 victory at No. 13 Stanford,

6 2017-18 Colorado Women’s Basketball Payne’s List Position Noteworthy Head Coach, Colorado (2016-current) 1 WNIT, 17-16 record Head Coach, Santa Clara (2014-2016) 1 WNIT, 34-27 record Head Coach, Southern Utah (2009-14) 1 WNIT, 1 Big Sky championship, 23-10 record in final season Assistant Coach, Santa Clara (2008-09) Assisted Jennifer Mountain Assistant Coach, Boise State (2005-08) Assisted Gordy Presnell, 1 NCAA, 1 WNIT, 2 WAC championships Assistant Coach, Gonzaga (2000-05) Assisted current Oregon head coach Kelly Graves, 2 WNIT, 1 WCC championship Playing Career: St. Mary’s, 1995-99 Honors: All-WCC: 1999 WCC All-Tournament: 1998, 1999 Still ranks 7th at SMC in career assists (291) and 9th in steals (137)

Southern Utah won its first round game at Colorado State, 71- 56, before succumbing in the second round – 79-68 at Colorado; the Buffs also defeated Payne’s T-Birds during the regular season in Boulder, 75-59, the second time she coached a game in CU’s Coors Events Center; SUU also lost a game in Boulder in her first season as its coach.

That SUU team set four major school records, including points scored (2,454), field goals made (830) and free throws made (629) and attempted (839); the 74.1 scoring average was the second-best by a Southern Utah team. Her top performer, Hailey Mandelko earned first-team All-Big Sky honors as a junior and senior and was also on the postseason All-Tournament team her final year there.

She helped Southern Utah transition from the Summit League into the Big Sky Conference for the 2012-13 season, piloting the Thunderbirds to a 15-16 overall record and a 9-11 mark in league play.

Her second SUU team in 2010-11 finished with a 16-14 record, the school’s first winning season in seven years, and more than doubling the win count in her first season when the Thunderbirds were 7-23 (SUU had just 24 wins in the three seasons before her arrival). The senior-led Thunderbirds were 10-8 in Summit League play, with forward Challis Pascucci earning first-team All- League honors. Her third SUU team was 6-23, but reflected her most youthful squad in her coaching career, with no seniors and just two juniors, but formed the nucleus for the T-Birds success two years later.

Payne determined that coaching was going to be her career path

13 NCAA Tournaments, 6 Sweet Sixteens, 3 Elite Eights 7 JR Payne Year-By-Year Coaching Record Overall Conference Season School WLPct. PPG Opp WLPct. PPG Opp Finish/Conf. 2009-10 Southern Utah ...... 7 23 .233 55.5 70.2 5 13 .278 57.3 69.6 8th / Summit League 2010-11 Southern Utah ...... 16 14 .533 68.0 71.8 10 8 .556 69.5 72.7 5th / Summit League 2011-12 Southern Utah ...... 6 23 .207 58.4 70.6 2 16 .111 57.3 70.3 10th / Summit League 2012-13 Southern Utah ...... 15 16 .484 69.7 68.1 9 11 .450 69.2 69.2 7th / Big Sky 2013-14 Southern Utah ...... 23 10 .697 74.4 67.4 15 5 .750 75.0 66.1 t-1st / Big Sky 2014-15 Santa Clara...... 11 18 .379 64.9 69.3 5 13 .278 64.3 69.8 7th / West Coast 2015-16 Santa Clara...... 23 9 .731 65.5 58.4 13 5 .722 65.3 57.9 t-3rd / West Coast 2016-17 Colorado...... 17 16 .515 68.9 66.3 5 13 .278 60.3 68.2 t-9th / Pac-12 Career Totals ...... 118 129 .478 ...... 64 84 .432

after graduating from St. Mary’s (Calif.) in 1999 with a degree senior, when St. Mary’s won both postseason tournaments. in French. Her first position was as an assistant coach and She played under two coaches in her time there, Terri recruiting coordinator at Gonzaga under one of her college Rubenstein for two seasons and Kelly Graves, now the head head coaches, Kelly Graves, where she would spend five coach at Oregon for her last two, with the Gaels posting a seasons (2000-01 through 2004-05). Gonzaga went from 5- 79-38 record with her as a player. 23 in her first season there to a 28-4 mark in her last, which included a 14-0 mark in the WCC. During her time there, she Her husband, Toriano Towns, is CU’s associate head coach helped recruit Gonzaga’s first All-American, guard Shannon and the two have coached together throughout the majority Mathews as well as help the Bulldogs to their first postseason of their coaching careers. They met as student-athletes at St. appearance in 10 years with back-to-back invites to the NIT. Mary’s in college. They have three children together: Aliyah (8), Jordan (5) and Jaxton (2). She then moved on to Boise State under new head coach Gordy Presnell for the three seasons (2005-06 through 2007- The Story Behind Her First Name: “JR” is nowhere close 08); Presnell had replaced a former CU letterwinner, Jen to her real name; her birth name is Ali-Marie. “When I was Warden. Together they turned around the fortunes of the two, I was always fighting with my older brother. My Dad Broncos, leading them to a pair of postseason berths, one used to watch Dallas and J.R. Ewing was a tough guy, so he being the school’s first NCAA tournament appearance in 13 started calling me J.R. It’s just stuck through the years seasons in 2007. BSU was 15-15 in her first season, but then though you’ll find I’m not anywhere as mean as the posted 24-9 and 24-8 records in winning two Western Athletic character on television.” She doesn’t use periods, however, Conference titles. and goes by “JR.”

Payne would then go on to serve as the top assistant coach at Santa Clara for the 2008-09 season under Jennifer Mountain. That team had its struggles in going 4-27, and she would eventually replace Mountain as the Broncos’ head coach six years later.

Overall in 17 years as an assistant and head coach, she has been a part of four conference championships and seven postseason appearances. She has helped coach two All- Americans, three conference players of the year, 37 All-Conference players and 38 All-Academic team members.

She was born in Jackson, Tenn., but her family moved to North Vancouver, B.C., when she was a toddler. She graduated from North Vancouver’s Windsor Secondary School where she started in basketball, earning a scholarship to St. Mary’s (Calif.).

Payne earned four letters at St. Mary’s, helping the Gaels to a 26-7 record and their first-ever trip in school history to the NCAA tournament as a senior in 1998-99. The former point guard led the team in assists that season with 131, and still ranks on the school’s all-time top 10 lists for both assists (291, seventh) and steals (137, ninth). She was an All-West Coast Conference first-team performer as a senior and was selected to the WCC All-Tournament Team as a junior and

8 2017-18 Colorado Women’s Basketball What Others Are Saying / Have Said About JR Payne Gordy Presnell – Boise State Head Coach “I am excited for Colorado and JR. Everywhere she has gone gets better, so Colorado got better today. JR is a tremendous coach, I am really excited for her and what she will accomplish at Colorado. Success absolutely follows her wherever she goes and her student-athletes will love playing for her.”

Kelly Graves – Oregon Head Coach “I’m very excited for JR to join the Pac-12. She was a great player for me at Saint Mary’s, always a leader on the floor. As an assistant coach, JR was instrumental in recruiting the players that helped turn Gonzaga into a national program. She’s had great success as a head coach and I’m confident she will be able to do the same at Colorado.”

*Challis Pascucci, Southern Utah (former player) “Coach JR and her coaching staff are the most dedicated and devoted coaches that I have ever played for. They have passion for the game, and the drive to be better. JR is an outstanding balance of being competitive and caring. She will positively push you to your limits to be successful, as a team and individually. Coach JR not only developed me as player but as a person. Now that I am a part of the professional world, I have been able to implement the drive for success, and the strong work ethic. JR has made such an impact on my life and I will always look up to her.”

*Tasha Harris, Boise State (former player, 2008 WAC Scoring Champion) “She has been a role model for me since the day I met her. She has been a huge part of who I am today and I can never repay her for that. But as far as JR as a person and a coach, JR cares not only about the success of the team as a whole but for the players first and foremost. She strives to better the individual for the purpose of team success but individual development as well.” *—archived quotes from past publications. Payne Against Opponents WL WL WL Air Force ...... 3 0 Montana...... 1 4 Simpson...... 1 0 Arizona...... 1 0 Montana State ...... 2 4 SMU...... 1 0 Arizona State ...... 0 1 New Mexico State...... 1 1 South Dakota ...... 0 2 Arizona Christian ...... 1 0 New Orleans ...... 1 0 South Dakota State...... 2 5 Boise State ...... 1 1 Nicholls ...... 0 1 Southeastern Louisiana..... 1 0 BYU...... 0 7 North Dakota...... 3 2 Southern California...... 0 2 California...... 1 1 North Dakota State ...... 3 4 Southern Oregon ...... 1 0 Cal Poly...... 1 1 Northern Arizona ...... 1 3 Stanford ...... 1 3 Centenary ...... 4 0 Northern Colorado ...... 5 1 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.1 0 Colorado ...... 0 3 Oakland...... 1 6 Texas Tech ...... 1 1 Colorado State...... 2 0 Ohio ...... 1 0 UC Davis...... 1 0 Eastern Washington...... 1 3 Ohio State...... 0 1 UC Riverside...... 0 1 Evansville...... 1 0 Oral Roberts ...... 1 6 UC Santa Barbara ...... 3 0 Fresno State ...... 0 1 Oregon...... 1 2 UCLA ...... 0 1 Georgia Tech...... 0 1 Oregon State...... 1 3 UMKC ...... 0 6 Gonzaga ...... 2 4 Pacific ...... 3 3 UNLV...... 1 2 Hope International ...... 1 0 Pepperdine...... 4 0 Utah ...... 1 3 Houston Baptist ...... 1 1 Portland ...... 5 0 Utah State...... 0 2 Idaho State ...... 2 4 Portland State ...... 4 0 Utah Valley...... 8 1 Iowa ...... 0 1 Sacramento State ...... 4 1 Washington ...... 0 3 IPFW...... 2 4 St. Francis Brooklyn ...... 1 0 Washington State...... 1 2 IUPUI ...... 4 2 Saint Mary's ...... 1 3 Weber State...... 5 1 Kentucky ...... 1 0 San Diego ...... 1 4 Western Illinois ...... 2 4 LIU Brooklyn ...... 1 0 San Francisco ...... 3 1 Westminster (Utah) ...... 2 0 Loyola Marymount ...... 2 2 San Francisco State...... 1 0 Wyoming ...... 0 1 LSU...... 1 0 San Jose State ...... 1 1 TOTALS ...... 118 129 Mississippi Valley State...... 1 0 Santa Clara...... 1 1

13 NCAA Tournaments, 6 Sweet Sixteens, 3 Elite Eights 9 Second Associate Head Coach Toriano Towns Season

Toriano Towns begins his second season as associate head coach Towns’ Chart with the University of Colorado Coaching Career: women’s basketball program in Associate Head Coach, Colorado (2016-current) 2017-18. His wife, JR Payne, 1 WNIT, 17-16 record coaches the offense and Towns is in charge of CU’s defensive Associate Head Coach, Santa Clara (2014-16) scheme. 1 WNIT, 34-27 record Associate Head Coach, Southern Utah (2009-14) In his first year in 2016-17, Towns 1 WNIT, 1 Big Sky championship helped the Buffs to one of the Assistant Coach, Boise State (2005-09) best single-season turnarounds in school history as they 1 NCAA, 1 WNIT, 2 WAC championships more than doubled their win total from the previous year. CU finished the year 17-16 overall and tied for ninth in the Pac- Assistant Coach, Arizona (2004-05) 12, a year after a last-place finish in the conference. The Buffs 1 NCAA also reached the third round of the WNIT, their first Assistant Coach, Gonzaga (2001-04) postseason appearance since 2014. 1 WNIT

Throughout the 2016-17, Colorado was impressive. CU During his time at Santa Clara, he served as the team’s started the season 10-0 for just the fifth time in school history, defensive coordinator and also worked with the post players including a win over No. 15/19 Kentucky. Towns helped his where he helped transform Santa Clara into one of the wife become just the second CU coach to begin her career country’s top defensive teams. In 2015-16, the Broncos held with 10 straight wins and the first since 1980. The 10-game opponents to 37 percent shooting, which ranked 40th in the winning streak was the longest since 2012. In Pac-12 play, NCAA, forced more than 20 turnovers per game (sixth), the Buffs’ signature win came on Feb. 12 when they upset No. 24 California on the road, their first win over a ranked team on the road since 2007.

In 2015-16, the season prior to Payne and Towns’ arrival, CU went just 7-23. By reaching eight wins in the eighth game of the 2016-17 season, it was the earliest in a season CU had exceeded its previous season’s win total in the modern era (since 1978-79).

10 2017-18 Colorado Women’s Basketball averaged 12. 6 steals (third) and allowed just 58.4 points per contest (54th).

Ahead of his time in Northern California, Towns spent five seasons as associate head coach with Southern Utah alongside Payne. Towns was the team’s recruiting and defensive coordinator, assisted with the planning of practice sessions, conditioning, scouting, and also worked with the Thunderbird post players.

In his first four seasons with the Thunderbirds, Towns helped forward Challis Pascucci develop into one of the premiere low post players in the Summit League. After the 2009-10 season Pascucci earned All-Summit League second team honors after leading the conference in rebounding and tied for the lead in blocked shots. She also set the SUU single- season record for total rebounds with 291 and her 46 blocks were the fifth most in SUU single-season history. Pascucci earned a spot on the All-Summit League first team after finishing third in the conference in scoring (17.7 PPG), second in rebounding (9.7 RPG) and sixth in blocks (23). Pascucci finished the 2011 season as the Thunderbirds all-time leader in career rebounds (929) and fourth in scoring (1,328).

Towns joined SUU after coaching four years at Boise State University as the Broncos defensive coordinator. During his time at BSU, the Broncos claimed two straight Western Athletic Conference championships, earned a trip to the NCAA tournament, advanced to the second round of the WNIT tournament, had a pair of First Team All-WAC guards and set numerous offensive and defensive school records.

Prior to Boise State, Towns spent one season as an assistant coach at the University of Arizona under Joan Bonvicini, helping the Wildcats record a 20-win season and a post a went from eighth in 2002-03 to second place in 2003-04, first round NCAA Tournament victory against the University of posting an 18-12 overall record. That team advanced to its Oklahoma. Towns played a key role in recruiting and scouting second-ever Women’s National Invitational Tournament at Arizona. He worked with the Wildcat post players, assisting (WNIT). with the development of Shawntinice Polk who became one of the country’s most decorated post players being named Towns earned his bachelor’s degree in communications from to the Kodak/WBCA All-American team, first-team All-Pac-10 Saint Mary’s College in 1998 and his Master’s Degree in team, and Kodak/WBCA all-Region 8 team. Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University. At SMC, Towns also played football. Towns’ coaching career began at Gonzaga University where he served as an assistant for three seasons. At Gonzaga, He and Payne have coached together throughout the Towns was responsible for post player development, where majority of their coaching careers. They met as student- he coached five All-West Coast Conference performers along athletes at St. Mary’s in college and have three children with holding responsibility for scouting and game preparation. together: Aliyah (8), Jordan (5) and Jaxton (2). Towns also He also served as the co-recruiting coordinator for the has another daughter, Arianna (21). Bulldogs. During his time at Gonzaga, he helped orchestrate the second-best turnaround in WCC history as the Bulldogs

13 NCAA Tournaments, 6 Sweet Sixteens, 3 Elite Eights 11 Second Assistant Coach Shandrika Lee Season Shandrika Lee is in her second season as an assistant coach at the Lee’s Chart University of Colorado in 2017-18. Coaching Career: In her first year in 2016-17, Lee Assistant Coach, Colorado (2016-current) helped the Buffs to one of the best single-season turnarounds in school 1 WNIT, 17-16 record history as they more than doubled Assistant Coach, Santa Clara (2014-16) their win total from the previous year. 1 WNIT, 34-27 record CU finished the year 17-16 overall Assistant Coach, Oregon (2011-14) and tied for ninth in the Pac-12, a year after a last-place finish in the Assistant Coach, Army (2009-11) conference. The Buffs also reached Assistant Coach, Cal Poly (2005-09) the third round of the WNIT, their first postseason appearance since 2014. Playing Career: Pepperdine, 2000-04 Throughout the 2016-17, Colorado was impressive. CU started the season 10-0 for just the fifth time in school history, including a win First-team All-WCC: 2004 over No. 15/19 Kentucky. The 10-game winning streak was the Academic All-WCC: 2002, 2004 longest since 2012. In Pac-12 play, the Buffs’ signature win came on 2 NCAA, 2 WNIT Feb. 12 when they upset No. 24 California on the road, their first win over a ranked team on the road since 2007. Still ranks 7th at Pepperdine in career steals (183) and 16th in scoring (1,172), 3rd in 3-point field goals Three players earned postseason awards from the Pac-12, including (173) and free throw percentage (.813) and 9th in first-team all-conference sophomore Kennedy Leonard, who was 3-point field goal percentage (.348) among the conference and national leaders in scoring, assists, steals and assist/turnover ratio. Haley Smith and Alexis Robinson were both named honorable mention all-Pac-12 and Smith was also honorable As a guard on Pepperdine’s squad, the Waves qualified for two NCAA mention for the All-Defensive team. Tournaments and made a pair of WNIT appearances. Lee led Pepperdine in steals three out of her four years on campus and ranks Lee joined the Colorado women’s basketball program after two seventh all-time in program history with 183 steals. She is the seasons as an assistant on JR Payne’s staff at Santa Clara University school’s 16th-leading scoring, tallying 1,172 career points and she where she played a key role in guiding the Broncos to a 23-9 mark also ranks in the top 10 in a variety of other categories, including third in 2015-16 as they posted their first winning record since 2008. In in 3-point field goals (173), third in free throw percentage (.813) and addition, she helped lead Santa Clara to a pair of second round ninth all-time in 3-point field goal percentage (.348). appearances in the West Coast Conference tournament, highlighted by a semifinals appearance last season after the team finished 13-5 A two-time WCC All-Academic nominee, Lee graduated with a in league play and tied for third in the conference standings. bachelor’s degree in sports medicine. She went on to earn her master’s degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in physical Lee’s move to Colorado marks her second time coaching within the education and sport studies from Cal Poly in 2008. Pac-12 Conference. She served as an assistant coach with the University of Oregon women’s basketball program for three seasons Prior to coaching at the collegiate level, Lee served as the junior prior to her time at Santa Clara. varsity girls’ basketball coach and varsity assistant at Ramona High in Riverside, Calif. She also has experience as a personal basketball Before her appointment at Oregon, Lee spent two seasons on the trainer, working with professional-bound athletes as well as designing East Coast as an assistant coach at Army. In her role on the Army and training women’s basketball lift, strength and speed programs. staff, she coordinated all recruiting efforts and admissions along with overseeing the development of the team’s perimeter players. She also worked on community outreach and alumni relations.

A native of Moreno Valley, Calif., Lee’s collegiate coaching career began at Cal Poly. In four seasons with the Mustangs, Lee developed the guards, which included two-time first team all-Big West selection Jessica Eggleston and a pair of all-Big West freshman team honorees in Tamara Wells and Ashlee Stewart.

In 2008-09, Lee was a member of the staff that put together Cal Poly’s winningest season as the Mustangs went 21-11 in 32 games. While in San Luis Obispo, Calif., she also led a variety of community outreach programs and fundraising efforts for the team. Lee was the co-director of the Holiday Beach Classic from 2005-09 and directed Cal Poly’s women’s basketball camps.

A 2004 graduate from Pepperdine University, Lee played in 98 games and averaged 12.0 points per game during her impressive career. The four-year letterwinner led the Waves in points (13.4 ppg), assists (3.2 apg) and steals (1.4) as a senior (2003-04) on her way to earning first team all-West Coast Conference honors. In her junior year, she averaged 17.6 points, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game before her season was cut short with an ACL injury.

12 2017-18 Colorado Women’s Basketball First Assistant Coach Alex Earl Season

Alex Earl is in her second season with the women’s Earl’s Chart basketball coaching staff at Colorado in 2017-18. She begins Coaching Career: her first season as an assistant Assistant Coach, Colorado (2017-current) coach after spending the 2016- 17 season as the Director of Director of Player Development, Colorado (2016-17) Player Development. 1 WNIT, 17-16 record Assistant Coach, Santa Clara (2015-16) In her first year in 2016-17, Earl helped the Buffs to one of the Assistant Coach, Eastern Washington (2014-15) best single-season turnarounds Assistant Coach, Lamar Community College (2013-14) in school history as they more than doubled their win total from the previous year. CU finished the year 17-16 overall and tied for ninth in the Pac-12, Playing Career: a year after a last-place finish in the conference. The Buffs Arizona State, 2009-12 also reached the third round of the WNIT, their first 2 NCAA postseason appearance since 2014. 2 WNIT Throughout the 2016-17, Colorado was impressive. CU started Started 36 games over four seasons the season 10-0 for just the fifth time in school history, including a win over No. 15/19 Kentucky. The 10-game winning streak was the longest since 2012. In Pac-12 play, the Buffs’ signature win came on Feb. 12 when they upset No. 24 California on the road, their first win over a ranked team on the road since 2007.

Earl came to Boulder after working as an assistant coach for one season under Colorado head coach JR Payne at Santa Clara University.

A 2013 graduate from Arizona State, Earl returned to the Centennial State after beginning her coaching career at Lamar Community College in Lamar, Colo. where she was the top assistant and recruiting coordinator for one year.

During her time in southeast Colorado, she helped guide the Runnin’ Lopes to their best record since their establishment in 2007. Earl then spent one season as an assistant at Eastern Washington before joining Payne at Santa Clara for the 2015- 16 season.

An Oregon native, Earl was a four-year letterwinner at ASU, helping lead the women’s basketball team to four consecutive postseason appearances, highlighted by a trip to the Elite Eight in 2009. A three-point shooting threat throughout her collegiate career, she ranks in the top 10 in Sun Devil program history in multiple three-point shooting categories.

Earl earned her bachelor’s degree from Arizona State in communications.

13 NCAA Tournaments, 6 Sweet Sixteens, 3 Elite Eights 13 Basketball Support Staff TAD WEDEL Three players earned postseason awards from the Pac-12, Creative Recruiting including first-team all-conference sophomore Kennedy and Media Coordinator Leonard, who was among the conference and national leaders in scoring, assists, steals and assist/turnover ratio. Wedel’s position of Creative Haley Smith and Alexis Robinson were both named Recruiting and Media Coordinator honorable mention all-Pac-12 and Smith was also will primarily consist of be helping in honorable mention for the All-Defensive team. the area of recruiting by creating Mahoney previously spent two years at Western State graphics and videos for social Colorado University as Associate Athletic Director and media. He will utilize his innovative Senior Women’s Administrator. She handled internal skills to develop creative recruiting pieces that will enhance operations for the athletic department in addition to serving the entire Buffs recruiting process. Wedel will also serve as as the head compliance officer in her role as Associate the team's video coordinator. Athletic Director and SWA for the Western State He joins the Buffs after spending two seasons at Tulsa as Mountaineers. It was her second stint with Western after she the women’s basketball video coordinator. In that position, spent one year as an assistant coach on the 2011-12 he broke down film for players and coaches, oversaw women’s basketball staff. During her tenure, she played a scouting services, and created recruiting graphics and key role in guiding the team to the Rocky Mountain Athletic videos for social media platforms. Prior to his time at Tulsa, Conference Shootout Championship game. he served as a student manager with the Kansas women’s Prior to her role in Western State’s athletic administration, basketball program. Mahoney was an assistant coach at Southern Utah Wedel, a native of Canton, Kansas, earned his bachelor's University from 2012-14 when Colorado head coach JR degree from the University of Kansas in 2015 in Payne was at the helm. Mahoney helped lead Southern health/physical education. Utah to the program’s first national postseason appearance and first conference championship over her two-year term. In addition to her coaching duties, Mahoney coordinated team travel, monitored academic progress, created scouting reports, coordinated game film and managed community JILL MAHONEY service for the Thunderbirds. Director of Operations Before her first term with the Mountaineers, Mahoney made her coaching debut as an assistant at Grand Canyon Jill Mahoney is in her second season University in Phoenix, Ariz. In four years on the Antelopes’ with the University of Colorado staff, she helped GCU win a trio of Pacific West Conference women’s basketball program as the Championships and the team made two appearances in the director of operations in 2017-18. NCAA Division II National Tournament, first in 2010 and then In her first year in 2016-17, Mahoney again in 2011 with the squad advancing to the Sweet helped the Buffs to one of the best Sixteen. single-season turnarounds in school history as they more Mahoney, a Russell, Kan. native, was named the Newcomer than doubled their win total from the previous year. CU of the Year and earned a first-team all-conference selection finished the year 17-16 overall and tied for ninth in the Pac- during her three-year playing career at Bethany College in 12, a year after a last-place finish in the conference. The Lindsborg, Kan. A standout guard-forward, she then spent Buffs also reached the third round of the WNIT, their first her final year of eligibility at Grand Canyon, leading the postseason appearance since 2014. team to a perfect record in conference play and also Throughout the 2016-17, Colorado was impressive. CU received all-conference honors. started the season 10-0 for just the fifth time in school Mahoney earned her bachelor’s degree in corporate fitness history, including a win over No. 15/19 Kentucky. The 10- and wellness, and a master’s degree in education game winning streak was the longest since 2012. In Pac-12 administration both from Grand Canyon. play, the Buffs’ signature win came on Feb. 12 when they upset No. 24 California on the road, their first win over a ranked team on the road since 2007.

14 2017-18 Colorado Women’s Basketball Basketball Support Staff ANDY SCHLICHTING TRACY WHITFIELD Assistant Sports Information Marketing/Promotions Director Tracy Whitfield is in his second year as the marketing and promotions coordinator Andy Schlichting joined Colorado’s for the volleyball, women’s basketball and sports information staff as an assistant in lacrosse programs. Whitfield came to CU October 2015. He is the primary media after three years (2013-16) at Creighton contact for CU’s women’s basketball and University where he was an assistant soccer programs. This is his second director of marketing and director of season as the women’s basketball contact. promotions, working with volleyball, He joined the Buffs after spending women’s basketball and baseball. nearly seven years as the sports information director at Metropolitan In 2013, Whitfield was the spring marketing and event intern for State University of Denver, overseeing media relations for all 16 the College World Series of Omaha Inc. He also served as the NCAA Division II athletics teams. He joined the Roadrunners in marketing and administrative intern at Augustana College (S.D.), the February 2009. marketing director for the Sioux Empire Baseball Association and a At CU, he is responsible for publicizing his two sports teams through marketing and promotions intern for the Sioux Falls Pheasants. mainstream media and digital media, serving as the liaison between Whitfield earned his bachelor’s degree in sports administration members of the media and the student-athletes and coaches. He also from Augustana in December of 2012 and went on to receive his produces media guides and print material to publicize the teams and master’s degree in sport management at Concordia University, St. organizes record books and weekly game notes. Paul, in December of 2015. At Metro State, he was a two-time winner of the J.W. Campbell/ Con Marshall Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Sports Information Director of the Year, voted on by sports information directors in the conference, winning the award in 2011 and 2015. He DAN GOLDSTEIN was also a three-time runner-up and was one of only four sports information directors in conference history to win the award twice. Assistant Ticket Manager Schlichting has been active in the sports information world and is Dan Goldstein is in his second season a member of the College Sports Information Directors of America as the assistant ticket manager for (CoSIDA). At Metro State, he served as the regional coordinator for women’s basketball. He came to CU Daktronics All-America men’s and women’s basketball. He was also during the 2016-17 season after spending the South Central Region coordinator for the National Collegiate three years at the United States Naval Baseball Writers Association, serving on the national poll and All- Academy as an assistant ticket manager. America committees, and served as a voter for the Tino Martinez Prior to that, he spent one year at Notre Award for Division II’s top baseball player each year. Dame and spent one year working Schlichting joined Metro State after spending two years as a simultaneously with the University of Denver and Air Force. graduate assistant in athletic communications at Southwest A native of Colorado, Goldstein graduated from Smoky Hill High Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minn. School and grew up in Centennial. He earned his bachelor’s degree While at SMSU, Schlichting received his bachelor’s degree in from Florida State University in sport management in 2012. sports management with a minor in business administration in December 2006. As a graduate assistant, he earned his master’s degree in sports leadership in December 2008. Schlichting was ROSI HAUBER also a four-year letterwinner as a punter/wide receiver for the Mustang football team, where he set the school’s single season Office Manager record for punting average (40.8) and earned first team all-region Rosi Hauber is in her eighth year as honors in 2005. He was also a three-time academic all-Northern office manager for the University of Sun Intercollegiate Conference honoree. Colorado women’s basketball team, A native of Chaska, Minn., he was a 2002 graduate of Chaska assisting in virtually every phase of the High School. Schlichting currently resides in Arvada. program’s day-to-day operation. A CU Athletics veteran, Rosi arrived at TAKAMASA SAKAMOTO CU in September 1997, and began a seven-year stint in the athletic director’s Assistant Athletic Trainer office in 1998. In 2005 she moved over to the marketing and Takamasa Sakamoto is in his third year promotions and licensing area where she also assisted with the as an assistant athletic trainer with the Alumni C-Club and the East Stadium Club Seats and Suites. University of Colorado Sports Medicine Rosi earned her diploma from Northeast Iowa Community college program. In addition to leading the needs and worked at Iowa State University for 13 years before moving to for the CU women’s basketball team, he Colorado in 1987. She grew up on her family’s farm near Cresco, also covers the Buffaloes’ nationally Iowa. prominent cheer squad. Rosi resides in Erie, Colo., with Jim Jokumsen and their Shiba Inu Sakamoto joins Colorado after one year (Dora). She enjoys classic cars, travel, playing cards and college at Ohio State University, where he served as an intern from 2014-15. sports. He earned his bachelors of science degree in athletic training from the University of Alabama in 2012 and in 2014, Sakamoto received his masters of education in exercise science from Wichita State University. A native of Columbus, Ohio, Sakamoto enjoys hiking and playing golf.

13 NCAA Tournaments, 6 Sweet Sixteens, 3 Elite Eights 15 Basketball Support Staff CHRIS HOWLETT DERIC SWANSON Academic Coordinator Executive Director of BuffVision Chris Howlett is in his sixth year in the Deric Swanson is in his 19th year as the Herbst Academic Center as he joined the Executive Director of BuffVision, staff in July 2012. coordinating all aspects of production Howlett serves as the academic involving the video display boards at coordinator for the women’s basketball and Folsom Field and the Coors Events soccer teams along with football’s Center. defense. His primary role is to design and Swanson, 43, is considered one of the implement objective-based academic best in his field and came to CU from the programming for student-athletes to improve academic success, National Hockey League’s Colorado Avalanche, where he had time management skills, decision making skills and study skills with worked for a brief time as the manager of game entertainment and the long term goal being graduation, community involvement and video production. He had previously worked three-plus seasons with career placement. the Colorado Rockies Baseball Club, first as a stadium camera Prior to his arrival at CU, Howlett served as an athletic academic operator, and then as video production coordinator, including the counselor at Florida Atlantic University from 2008-12. His 1998 Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Coors Field. responsibilities at FAU included the academic oversight of the men’s In 2003, BuffVision won the Golden Matrix Award for “Best Overall soccer, women’s softball, women’s golf, and women’s volleyball Video Display” in the University Division at the Information Display teams. In addition, Howlett served as the department’s admissions and Entertainment Association (IDEA) conference in Atlanta. liaison, textbook coordinator, and Life Skills coordinator. The following year, BuffVision was awarded two distinctions, one Howlett attended Western High School in Davie, Fla., where he for the 2004 Aurora Awards, a Platinum Best of Show statue for In- played baseball and hockey. He earned a bachelor’s of business Game Entertainment Graphics/Design, and a Telly Award for The administration degree with a major in management, and minor in Buffalo Stampede, CU’s coaches’ show. In 2006 and 2007, accounting, from Florida Atlantic University in 2008. To further his BuffVision won three more Telly Awards for Swanson’s production, education and enhance his leadership and management skills, including two for the “Ralphie on Campus” institutional spot and Howlett is currently pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Leadership another for The Buffalo Stampede, and in 2013 earned another Telly and Management through the Lockheed Martin Engineering for a production involving CU’s Men’s Basketball team and the Navy Management Program at the University of Colorado. SEALs. Howlett is originally from Northampton, England and enjoys He is a 1996 graduate of Colorado State University, earning his traveling and playing hockey. He and his wife, Rachel have a bachelor’s degree in technical journalism and broadcasting. He daughter, Elina. graduated Magna Cum Laude and was recognized as CSU’s outstanding graduate in journalism. He was born May 24, 1974 in Oakland, Calif., and attended two high schools. His father was stationed in the Azores, Portugal, and he spent two years at Lajes High School, where he lettered in ADAM RINGLER football, soccer, volleyball and basketball. After moving to Colorado, he graduated from Liberty High School in Colorado Springs, where Assistant Director of Sports he lettered in football. He played volleyball on CSU’s club team for Performance three years. Swanson has also competed in eight IronMan events, Adam Ringler is in his first year as the including a personal best of 11 hours and 29 minutes in Phoenix, assistant speed-strength and conditioning Ariz., in 2009. coach for volleyball and women’s He has two sons, Gavin (11) and Dane (8). basketball at Colorado, joining the staff during the summer in 2017. Ringler comes to CU after spending the 2010-17 seasons ERIC PELLONI at Wichita State as an assistant coach, working directly with the women’s basketball, volleyball, softball, Assistant Director of BuffVision women’s tennis and women’s golf teams. Eric Pelloni is in his 12th season as the Ringler earned his bachelor’s (’08) and master’s degrees (’10) in assistant director of BuffVision, although kinesiology from Michigan State where he also served time as a he has been involved in CU Athletics for volunteer and graduate assistant coach from 2006-10. He worked the better part of 16 years. closely with the volleyball team and directly oversaw the strength He assists with the video packages for and conditioning program for wrestling, helping the squad place six CU’s video display boards and has been NCAA qualifiers and awarding one All-American. Ringler also on the BuffVision game day crew for 14 assisted with the strength and conditioning programs for 17 seasons. Pelloni also helps coordinate Michigan State Olympic sports and assisted with the men’s and streaming and technical issues between CU Athletics and Pac-12 women’s basketball teams. Enterprises. In high school Ringler earned all-state recognition in wrestling. He When CU Athletics overhauled its official athletic website, enjoys spending time with his family and doing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. CUBuffs.com, in 2003, Pelloni was hired on a part-time basis to create video content and stream live. He has created the majority of A native of Niles, Mich., Ringler and his wife, Brittney, have a the graphic work and assisted in the designing of CUBuffs.com, and daughter, Breslin, and a son, Bear. has designed several women’s basketball media guide covers. Pelloni was also the associate producer of “The Buffalo Stampede” coaches show which aired weekly on FSN Rocky Mountain until ending with Colorado’s transition over to the Pac-12 Networks agreement.

16 2017-18 Colorado Women’s Basketball Basketball Support Staff Prior to his full-time appointment at CU, Pelloni worked as a and earned his bachelor’s in recreation administration in 2002 at freelance video editor/graphic artist in the Denver area, creating Ashland University where he served as a student equipment video content for both broadcast and non-broadcast applications for manager. He is married to the former Linda Poncin and the couple a number of clients including Qwest Communications, Coors, XCEL has a daughter, Lily. Energy and the United Way of New York City. Pelloni graduated from Metropolitan State College of Denver in 1998 and served as an Adjunct Professor at Metro State in 2003-04. MICHELLE WOLCOTT He and his wife Gabbie, CU’s Director of Operations for Olympic Sports, have a son, E.J. and a daughter, Sophia. Team Physician Dr. Michelle Wolcott is in her 15th year as team physician for the University of NEILL WOELK Colorado women’s basketball program. An orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Wolcott Contributing Editor, specializes in the management of athletic CUBuffs.com injuries to the ankle, knee and shoulder. Neill Woelk, a veteran journalist of 35 She earned her bachelor of science years with many ties to the University of degree in biology from the University of Colorado and Boulder communities, joined Utah and graduated from Georgetown University School of Medicine CUBuffs.com as its contributing editor in in 1996. July 2015. Dr. Wolcott completed her internship and residency in orthopedic Woelk spent 30 years as a sports surgery at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Ill., in reporter, columnist, assistant sports editor 2001. She also completed a fellowship in sports medicine at the and sports at the Boulder Daily Camera, where he covered a University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics in 2002. multitude of CU sports and events. He also worked for newspapers A member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and in Oregon and Utah. the American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, Dr. Wolcott Woelk is a 1982 CU graduate and a Colorado native. He was the spends her free time her son, Henry (6), and daughter Charlotte (4). 1999 Colorado sportswriter of the year and has received numerous Colorado Press Association awards for his work. “The University of Colorado has been part of the fabric of my life STEPHANIE CHU, D.O. for most of my life,” Woelk says. “It’s exciting to be part of an athletic department that has such a storied past and an equally bright Team Physician future.” Dr. Stephanie Chu has served as team physician within CU Athletics since 2008. Working with women’s basketball, soccer NICK SPROUSE and volleyball teams at CU, she specializes in primary care sports Equipment Manager medicine, with personal interests in Nick Sprouse rejoined the Colorado women’s sports medicine and endurance equipment staff in August of 2016. He athletes. oversees the equipment needs of the Originally from Westerville, Ohio, Chu earned her undergraduate volleyball, lacrosse and men’s and degree from Miami University in 1999 and her medical degree from women’s basketball programs. Sprouse the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2003. She previously served on the CU equipment completed her Family Medicine residency and Primary Care Sports staff from 2005-2011 and during that time Medicine Fellowship at the University of Connecticut in 2008, he worked will all of CU’s intercollegiate working with various athletic teams while at UConn. sport programs. After he left Colorado in 2011, Sprouse joined the Currently residing in Denver, Chu is a member of the American sales and reconditioning team at Denver Athletic Supply before College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Medical moving back into the equipment field as an assistant at Colorado Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM). She spends her free time State. He originally came to Colorado in 2005 from the University of traveling and volunteering with the nonprofit organization Hope Arizona where he was an equipment intern for three years. Sprouse Shines, traveling to Kigali, Rwanda with the organization every graduated from Philip Barbour High School (West Virginia) in 1997 summer.

Student Managers Aidan McQuade Katie Galloway Marisa Kaylor Caleigh DeWitt

Jasmine Polkowske Kathryn Makowski Cameron Gralka Student Athletic Trainer Student Athletic Trainer Student Athletic Trainer

13 NCAA Tournaments, 6 Sweet Sixteens, 3 Elite Eights 17 administration

Bruce Benson Phil DiStefano President Chancellor

2017 University of Colorado Board of Regents Back row: Jack Kroll, John Carson, Stephen Ludwig, Heidi Ganahl, Kyle Hybl. Front Row: Sue Sharkey, Irene Griego (chair), Glen Gallegos (vice chair), Linda Shoemaker. Russell L. Moore Joe Jupille Rick George Provost Faculty Rep Athletic Director

Ceal Barry Matt Biggers Lance Carl Ben Broussard Cory Hilliard Kris Livingston David Plati Miguel Rueda Senior Associate AD/ Associate AD/ Associate AD/ Associate AD/ Associate AD/ Associate AD/ Associate AD/Sports Associate AD/ Internal Operations/ External Affairs/Chief Business Development Development Chief Financial Ofﬁcer Student Success Information Director Health & Performance SWA Marketing Ofﬁcer Business Operations

Emily Canova Jason DePaepe Alexis Williams J.T. Galloway Ted Ledbetter Scott McMichael Steve Pizzi Rachel Ripken Assistant AD/ Associate AD/ Assistant AD/Ticket Associate AD/ Assistant AD/ Assistant AD/ Assistant AD/Coors Community Outreach Special Projects Facilities and Game Operations Sales Trademark Licensing Development Development Events Center and Manager Day Operations and Service and Brand Development Game Day Operations

Jill Keegan Prema Khanna Dr. Eric McCarty Deric Swanson Lance Gerlach Lindsey Lew Chris Bader Ron Scott Assistant AD/ Assistant AD/Director Director of Sports Director of BuffVision Buffalo Sports Assistant AD/ Counseling and Sport Director of Compliance of Marketing Medicine Properties/ Digital and Psychologist Development General Manager Database Marketing

Josi Carlson Chase Meyer Christina Beck Neill Woelk Erin Sanders Bart Emery Curtis Snyder Chuck Young Director of Associate Director/ Executive Assistant/ CUBuffs.com Alumni C Club Director Coors Events Center Director of Digital Assistant Manager Special Events Compliance/ Athletic Director and Contributing Editor Strategy of Athletic Monitoring Senior Associates Operations/CEC

18 2017-18 Colorado Women’s Basketball President bruce Benson Bruce D. Benson is in his 10th year Benson, 79, has guided efforts to institute operational efficiencies, as president of the University of cut bureaucracy and improve business practices at the university. CU Colorado, as he was named to the has secured legislation over the past nine sessions of the Colorado position in March 2008. Since taking General Assembly that has allowed it to save millions annually in the helm of his alma mater, he has areas such as procurement, insurance and construction. He has also enhanced CU’s standing as one of the established a number of public-private partnerships to make the nation’s leading teaching and research university more entrepreneurial and meet the needs of businesses in universities, advancing the economy, Colorado and across the country. health and culture of Colorado and He oversees a system with four campuses (Boulder, Colorado beyond. Springs, Denver, and the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora) with a The 21st president in the history of total enrollment of 63,202. During his tenure, CU’s four campuses the university, he has now served the have seen record enrollment. The university’s annual budget is $4.1 fifth-longest of the group, and is the billion. The CU system is the third-largest employer in the state, with longest-serving CU president since some 35,000 employees. Robert L. Stearns held the post for the better part of 15 years (1939- Before becoming CU’s president, Benson had already made his 53) well over 60 years ago. mark in business, politics, philanthropy, education and civic During Benson’s tenure, CU’s research funding has reached record endeavors. He founded Bruce Mineral Group in 1965, a year after levels, including its best showing of $994 million in 2016-17, supporting earning his bachelor’s degree in Geology from CU. the university’s research strengths in biotechnology, health care, He has consistently been active in a variety of educational, civic energy and aerospace engineering. He has led efforts to promote and political endeavors, and was the Republican nominee for cross-campus collaboration that have resulted in cooperative Colorado governor in 1994. Benson has received many honors academic programs and research initiatives, most notably CU’s recognizing his leadership, but two are particularly notable: CU in Biofrontiers Institute, led by Nobel laureate Tom Cech. 2004 granted him an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, and in CU has broken records for fundraising in eight consecutive years February 2009 he was inducted into the Colorado Business Hall of (including a record $386.3 million in 2016-17) under his leadership. Fame. In August 2016, he was the recipient of the inaugural Courage Benson and his wife, Marcy, chaired CU’s $1.5 billion Creating Futures in Education Award from the Steamboat Institute, as the honor is for fundraising campaign, which surpassed its goal in November 2013. The encouraging intellectual diversity and the free and robust exchange of campaign, the largest in university history, supported scholarships, ideas. academic enhancements (endowed faculty positions, programs), He was born July 4, 1938 in Chicago, and has three children and research projects and capital improvements across CU’s campuses. 10 grandchildren.

Chancellor Phil DiStefano Dr. Philip P. DiStefano is in his ninth Dr. DiStefano began a three-year term in August 2016 on the Board year as the Chancellor at the of Governors of the NCAA representing the Pac 12, within that role he University of Colorado Boulder. Prior to was a member of the NCAA’s revenue distribution working group. He his appointment on May 5, 2009, Dr. also served five years as the University of Colorado’s faculty DiStefano was the top academic officer representative to the Big 12 Conference, as he assumed the role on at CU-Boulder for eight years as the June 1, 2000, and held it until appointing Dr. David Clough to the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor position in the spring of 2005. He has been closely involved with the for Academic Affairs. He had also athletic program for most of his time at CU, and in June 2016, was served as interim chancellor twice recently accompanied by athletic director Rick George to Italy to during pivotal times in the university’s promote the university and the success of its international students. history. As Chancellor he works closely with students, faculty, staff, alumni, Dr. DiStefano, 70, co-chaired the donors, governing officials, and business and community leaders in steering committee for CU-Boulder’s extending CU’s legacy as a preeminent national comprehensive visionary strategic plan, Flagship research university. 2030, conceived with campus, A first-generation college graduate, Dr. DiStefano earned a community and statewide input, to guide the university for decades to Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio State University in 1968 and a come. Today, Dr. DiStefano is shepherding its implementation as Master of Arts degree in English Education from West Virginia Flagship 2030 has moved from vision to reality. University in 1971. He holds a Doctorate in Humanities Education from Dr. DiStefano has served CU-Boulder for 43 years, first coming to Ohio State University, where he served as a teaching and research the University of Colorado in 1974 as an Assistant Professor of associate. Curriculum and Instruction at the School of Education. His academic Dr. DiStefano began his educational career as a high school career flourished as he assumed a series of academic and English teacher in Ohio. He has authored and co-authored numerous administrative positions, including Professor, Associate Dean, Dean books and articles on literacy education. and Vice Chancellor. He was appointed Provost and Executive Vice He was born September 21, 1946 in Steubenville, Ohio, and Chancellor for Academic Affairs in 2001. graduated from Steubenville Catholic Central High School. He has He has established new initiatives to support students in their been married to the former Yvonne Pasquarella for 48 years, and the success, including an increased graduation rate. He also has set forth couple has three grown daughters, Gia, Nicole and Jennifer, and two plans to create alternative sources of revenue and further advance granddaughters. CU’s reputation as a top comprehensive national research university. In 2015, he served as the official starter for the 37th annual Bolder Dr. DiStefano is considered a national authority on integrating Boulder, the city’s 10-kilometer race that is the fourth largest in the intercollegiate athletics into the university academic mission. For the nation. He has been very active throughout his career in the Boulder sixth consecutive year under Chancellor DiStefano, CU’s NCAA Community, having previously served on numerous boards, including Academic Progress Rate, which tracks student-athlete progress the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club. toward graduation, is the best in school history.

13 NCAA Tournaments, 6 Sweet Sixteens, 3 Elite Eights 19 Provost Russell Moore Dr. Russell L. Moore is entering his He co-chaired the Flagship 2030 Task Force on Research, ninth year as the Provost and Executive Scholarship, and Creative Works. Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for He holds an adjunct professorship in medicine (cardiology) at the the University of Colorado, having University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus at the University assumed the position July 1, 2010. of Colorado Denver. Dr. Moore had enjoyed a long and He was an assistant and associate professor (1986-91) in the distinguished career at CU, having departments of medicine, cellular and molecular physiology at the previously served as interim vice Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in Hershey, Pa. His chancellor for research from May 2009 research focused on adaptations of the heart to physiological and to July 2010, and prior to that pathological stress, particularly as they relate to the development of appointment, he was the associate vice heart failure. chancellor for research since 2006. Dr. Moore earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry Dr. Moore served as chair of from the University of California at Davis in 1976, and a doctorate from kinesiology and applied physiology (now integrative physiology) from Washington State University in 1982. He did postdoctoral work at the 1994 to 2001, and was an assistant professor (1984-86), associate University of Texas Health Science Center in Dallas (1981-84). professor (1993-96) and full professor (1996-present) in that department.

FACULTY REP Joe Jupille Dr. Joseph (Joe) Jupille, an associate Jupille has been involved with student-athletes almost since professor of political science, is in his arriving at CU over a decade ago, serving on and then chairing the first year as the University of Colorado’s Boulder Faculty Assembly’s Intercollegiate Athletics Committee (IAC), Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) which works with the Department of Athletics in managing and to the Pac-12 Conference, as he thriving at the nexus of athletics and academics. He has served or assumed the position on July 1, 2017. continues to serve on a number of student-athlete-centered bodies Dr. Jupille, 46, replaced Dr. David such as the AD’s Academic Risk Assessment (ARA) committee, the Clough, who had served as FAR for 12 Title IX Task Force chaired by Senior Woman Administrator (SWA) years starting in March 2005 until his Ceal Barry in addition to many others. retirement. Jupille is only the seventh Jupille wants it all for CU student-athletes: a gold standard FAR in CU history, joining a very education, unparalleled opportunity for personal growth and prestigious list: Walter Franklin (1947- professional preparation, a chance to enjoy year-round fresh air and 1948), Warren Thompson (1949-1966), William Baughn (1967-1989), sunshine and develop ways of being well, and of course, a world class James Corbridge (1989-2000), current CU chancellor Phil DiStefano athletic experience. It is the FAR’s job to bring a faculty sensibility to (2000-2005) and Clough (2005-2017). the pursuit of these goals. Now in his 13th year at CU, he joined the faculty in 2005 and He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from UC became an Associate Professor in 2007. He founded and served as Santa Barbara in 1992, a Master of Arts in International Public Policy Director of the Colorado European Union Center of Excellence from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey in (CEUCE) from 2008-15. 1995, and his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Professor Jupille’s research specializes in rules and institutions, Washington in 2000. which comes in handy in the world of intercollegiate athletics. With Prior to joining the CU faculty in 2005, he was an Assistant James Caporaso (University of Washington) he is completing Professor of Political Science at Florida International University for Theories of Institutions, which distills understandings of rules across almost six years (2000-05). a range of disciplinary orientations. He has previously published He was born in Chicago and 1970. He is married to the former Institutional Choice and Global Commerce (2013, with Walter Mattli Lisa Avanzino and the couple have four children (Michael, Alex, and Duncan Snidal) and Procedural Politics (2004), the latter of which Jackson and Julia). An avid cyclist, he commutes daily to CU by bike centers on his core substantive and teaching expertise in the from the town of Superior (several miles to the southeast of Boulder). European Union (EU). He has been published widely in peer reviewed He grew up as a fan of the Pacific 10 Conference and in particular journals and edited volumes, including in the Annual Review of the California Bears but his allegiance is now sworn to the Buffaloes. Political Science, Comparative Political Studies, European Political Science Review, International Organization and West European Politics.

20 2017-18 Colorado Women’s Basketball Athletic Director Rick George Rick George was introduced as the team win two American just the sixth full-time athletic director League championships and in University of Colorado history on compile a 243-176 record (.580 July 17, 2013, returning to Boulder winning percentage) during his where he helped play a role in the time there, second-best in the school’s first and only national major leagues during that time championship in football some 23 frame. As the COO, he worked years earlier. closely with team president George, 57, came to Colorado from and CEO, baseball Hall-of- the Texas Rangers baseball club of the Famer Nolan Ryan, and was American League, where he was responsible for all facets of the named chief operating officer on Rangers’ business operations, October 5, 2010 with a promotion to including oversight of all sales president of business operations in and marketing efforts, broad- February 2013. He agreed to a 5-year contract at CU, and he officially cast and communications, started on the job on August 12, 2013. In June 2016, the Board of ticket and suite sales, naming Regents approved a contract extension that carries him through rights, etc., in addition to over- 2020-21 academic and athletic year. seeing the finance, human His list of achievements in his first 1,000 days in the position were resource and operations many, but none more significant than shepherding through a $156 departments. million Athletic Complex Expansion from creation through fruition, Among his many accom- gaining approval from the Board of Regents and then raising nearly plishments with the Rangers one-half of the estimated cost to initiate construction, which began was a comprehensive branding May 12, 2014. The project is the core of the Sustainable Excellence study that successfully rebranded the ball club, and an implementa- Initiative (SEI), the jewel of which was a long-awaited indoor practice tion of a new ticketing strategy that over the course of three seasons facility. Once green-lighted, he spearheaded the most successful increased ticket revenues by over $30 million. The club’s attendance fundraising campaign in athletic department history, raising to date saw an increase of 40 percent from the 2010 season to nearly 3.5 $95 million for the project. million in 2012, second in the American League (behind the New York George implemented the department’s first-ever comprehensive Yankees) and third in the majors. The 2013 numbers were on pace to strategic plan, which has mapped CU’s immediate and long range exceed the 3 million mark again when he left the franchise for CU. purpose and goals. He also redesigned the management teams, Prior to joining the Rangers, George served as executive vice made tough budget decisions that reduced deficits he inherited (and president and chief of operations for the PGA TOUR for two-and-a- has since produced two budget surpluses), and canvassed the state, half years (beginning in June 2008). While with the TOUR, he worked region and nation in both friend- and fundraising. with the corporate marketing department in renewing sponsorships In his fourth year in the position (2016-17), 13 of CU’s 16 athletic and creating new events. He also oversaw the Tournament Business teams were at one time or another ranked among the nation’s Top 25 Affairs division that worked with Tournaments to increase tournament (including all five in the fall; skiing is a coed program with combined revenue. rankings). Included in that group was the football team, as the He also worked for the PGA TOUR as president of the Champions Buffaloes returned to the national rankings for the first time in 11 Tour from 2003-08, and as the executive vice president for seasons, in part due to George’s support of Mike MacIntyre as the championship management his last three years there. His major program’s head coach and allowing him to follow through with his accomplishments included increasing revenues and sponsorships plan to bring the Buffaloes back to national prominence. All but one and the development of strategic plans, the latter including a vision team competed in the postseason, most in NCAA Championships, and mission statement as well as core values. The Champions Tour with football making it to a bowl game for the first time in nine years had grown to a minimum 29 events with over $55 million in prize and both basketball teams going to their respective NIT events. money when he left for the PGA TOUR. Near the end of his first year, he was recognized by CU’s Student- Athlete Advisory Committee as its choice for Staff Member of the Year; no token award, the group acknowledged his attendance at most home athletic events, regular meetings with team captains of all programs to interact with them and receive their feedback, and willingness to meet with any student-athlete and that his door is always open to them. George brought the most diverse background to the position than any before him at Colorado: all five others had extensive and primarily exclusive college athletic histories, the only exceptions being when Marolt left CU after 10 years as ski coach to lead the U.S. Olympic ski team before returning, and Tharp, who was a university attorney with strong CU-Boulder campus ties. While George began and worked in the college athletic world for the first half of his professional career, he stepped outside that box for the second half. George is just the sixth full-time athletic director in Colorado history, following in the footsteps of Harry Carlson (1927-65), Eddie Crowder (1965-84), Bill Marolt (1984-96), Dick Tharp (1996-2004) and Mike Bohn (2005-13). Two others have bridged directors in interim capacities, Jack Lengyel (six months between Tharp and Bohn) and Ceal Barry (two months between Bohn and George). George was with the Rangers for less than three years, but saw George’s first week on the job ... in 1987.

13 NCAA Tournaments, 6 Sweet Sixteens, 3 Elite Eights 21 Rick and granddaughter Harper at ESPN’s Basketball Game Day (February 2014).

From 1998-2003, George served as President and CEO of the Fore!Kids Foundation, a 501c3 organization that raised money for children’s charities via golf-related events, where he led rebranding and organizational efforts that resulted in increases in charitable giving to the Foundation. At the collegiate level, George worked in three major conferences (Big Ten, Big 8, Southeastern) in football operations, beginning with his alma mater, the University of Illinois, as football recruiting coordinator (1983-87). He graduated from Illinois in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts & Sciences Individual Study that had an emphasis on Sports Communication and Journalism. He was a four-year letterman at cornerback for the Illini, playing in 44 straight games and starting in 27 games in all, as he played two years each under coaches Gary Moeller and Mike White. He was a two-time recipient of the school’s Bruce Capel Award, given for dedication and courage to honor Capel Rick George oversaw the $153 million facility upgrade who lost his life serving his country in Vietnam; George received the to Folsom Field that opened in the fall of 2015 and honor for his junior and senior seasons. benefits all CU Student Athletes. Upon his graduation, White named him the assistant director for player personnel for the Illini, and a year later (1983), he assumed overseeing the football program. This was where George first the all sports recruiting coordinator. In March 1984, George took over expanded his professional role outside of solely football, as he had the recruiting chores solely for football, with his first class ranked No. oversight over all external departments, particularly in the area of 1 in the nation by the recruiting services with all in the top 20; he managing budgets and developing marketing and promotional coordinated five classes in all at Illinois when the call came to take strategies for all sports. him out west to Colorado. George was born April 3, 1960 in Woodstock, Ill., and graduated On March 2, 1987, Bill McCartney hired him as Colorado’s football from Collinsville (Ill.) High School, where he lettered in football, recruiting coordinator. Two-and-a-half years later (Dec. 21, 1989), basketball and baseball. He is married to the former Nancy Green, George was promoted to assistant athletic director for football and the couple has two grown daughters, Jenni Reed (husband Tom) operations, not coincidentally after the Buffaloes finished the regular and Christi, and two granddaughters (Harper and Maddie). season with an 11-0 record and the school’s first-ever No. 1 national On July 19, 2017, George was named chair of the LEAD1 ranking in the polls. CU lost to Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl and Association, which represents the athletic directors, programs and would finish No. 4, but came back to go 11-1-1 in 1990, this time student-athletes of the 129 member schools of the Football Bowl defeating the Irish in the Orange Bowl to earn consensus national Subdivision (FBS). He immediately began serving a two-year term champion honors. for the organization, as its mission includes influencing how the rules Shortly thereafter, he left the Buffaloes for Vanderbilt University, of college sports are enacted and implemented, advocating for the where he was reunited with former CU offensive coordinator Gerry future of college athletics and providing various services to the DiNardo, who was named the Commodores’ head coach a year members. He also serves on the Division I Council of the NCAA, and earlier. In eight years at Vanderbilt (1991-98), he also served as is part of the NCAA’s D1 Council Transfer Working Group. associate athletic director for external operations in conjunction with

22 2017-18 Colorado Women’s Basketball university of colorado

Founded in 1876 at the foot of the Flatirons, over 140 years has transformed the University of Colorado from a lone building on a bleak, windswept hill to one of the nation’s leading public research institutions. Established in 1861, the University was formally founded in 1876, the year Colorado became a state. The Boulder campus encom- passes over 1,100 acres on the main campus in the heart of town, east campus (which includes a research park), south campus, Williams Village and the Mountain Research Station north of nearby Nederland (which supports ecology, chemistry and geology). While over 32,000 students are educated on the Boulder campus, another 30,000-plus study at the University of Colorado at Denver, the University of Colorado Anschutz Campus (Aurora) and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Nine elected Regents and President Bruce Benson lead the four-campus system, while each campus has a Chancellor who serves as the chief athletes include former United States Supreme Court Justice academic and administrative officer. Dr. Phil DiStefano is in his Byron “Whizzer” White, former big band leader Glenn Miller and ninth year as the chancellor of the Boulder campus. actors Robert Redford and Chris Meloni, the latter starring for Students can enter any of 10 schools and colleges offering years on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, the creators of South more than 2,500 courses in 150 fields, representing a full range of Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and Philip Bailey, co-founder of disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, physical and the popular music group Earth, Wind & Fire. biological sciences, the fine and performing arts, and the If the aphorism, “Somewhere between the Rockies and reality,” professions. CU-Boulder is regularly ranked among the best of seems too good to believe, then come for a visit. Start with a walk the United States’ public universities by the Fiske Guide to on the historic Pearl Street Mall, a downtown pedestrian mall that Colleges, and a 2010 USA Today/Princeton Review survey rated is the ceremonial heart of the city. Visitors may be so taken in by the University of Colorado as the fifth-best value among American the scenery they may not realize the University that put it all public colleges. CU was recently ranked as the No. 33 university together. From Pearl, Broadway leads directly onto campus where in the world by the Times Higher Education. the University of Colorado Museum and the CU Heritage Center, CU-Boulder has played a major role in NASA space programs, in the original Old Main building, both introduce the University’s designing and building many scientific instruments flown in outer past and present. The hub of campus activity can be found at both space, and graduated 17 men and women who became the University Memorial Center (UMC) and the Center for astronauts, including the late Jack Swigert, one of the three Community (C4C). The ATLAS building is one of the most state- astronauts in the crippled Apollo 13 mission who made it back to of-the-art structures on any college campus. Earth safely from the moon. When the Hubble Space Telescope Take in the fresh mountain air on any part of 100 miles of trails was launched in 1990, it was carrying seven major instruments, and 30,000 acres of open space. Climb the Flatirons or in including a high-resolution spectrograph to study the evolution of Eldorado Canyon State Park. Swim or board sail at the Boulder stars and designed and built by an international science team led Reservoir while elite runners sprint around it. Take in a pro by astronomer Jack Brandt of CU-Boulder. Since Hubble has been sporting event down the road in Denver, just one of 13 cities with deployed, CU-Boulder faculty and students have been among the teams in all four pro leagues. top users of Hubble of any institution in the world. CU- Boulder is “The University of Colorado, and Boulder, is a town which the only university in the country where undergraduate students stops where the Rocky Mountains begin. Normally in America have operated a NASA satellite. such a superb site would be occupied by a golf course, but The University has produced 19 Rhodes Scholars, five of which somebody goofed and instead they built what may be the most were former football student-athletes at CU, with Jim Hansen the beautifully situated campus in the world… if anyone asks you to most recent recipient in 1992. Faculty member Thomas Cech, a Boulder, I have one word of advice: ‘Go.’” — From London’s distinguished professor of chemistry and biochemistry, won the Observer Magazine article, “Us and Them,” by Simon Hoggart 1989 Nobel Prize in chemistry. Other notable alumni other than (April 23, 1989)

13 NCAA Tournaments, 6 Sweet Sixteens, 3 Elite Eights 23 pac-12 Conference Conference History The roots of the Pac-12 Conference date back 102 years to December 2, 1915, when the Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) was founded at a meeting at the Oregon Hotel in Portland. The original membership consisted of four schools — the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Washington, the University of Oregon, and Oregon State College (now Oregon State University). All still are charter members of the Conference. Pacific Coast Conference play began in 1916 and, one year later, Washington State College (now Washington State University) was accepted into the league, with Stanford University following in 1918. In 1922, the PCC expanded to eight teams with the admission of the University of Southern California (USC) and the University of Idaho. In 1924, the University of Montana joined the league roster, and in 1928, the PCC grew to 10 members with the addition of UCLA. Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott The Pacific Coast Conference competed as a 10-member league until 1950, with the exception of 1943-45 when World War in the Pac-12. Big-time rivals for the first half of the last century, the II curtailed intercollegiate athletic competition to a minimum. Buffaloes and Utes officially became the 11th and 12th members During that time, the league’s first commissioner was named. of the Conference on July 1, 2011, the first additions to the league Edwin Atherton was commissioner in 1940 and was succeeded by since 1978. During the 33 years between expansions, Pac-10 Victor Schmidt in 1944. In 1950, Montana resigned from the teams claimed 258 NCAA titles (130 women’s, 128 men’s). Conference and joined the Mountain States Conference, At present, the Pac-12 sponsors 11 men’s sports and 13 essentially replacing Colorado, which left for the Big 7 two years women’s sports, having added women’s lacrosse for the first time earlier. The PCC continued as a nine-team conference through for the spring of 2018. Additionally, the conference schools are 1958. members of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) in In 1959, the PCC was dissolved and the Athletic Association of four other men’s sports and two women’s sports. CU participates Western Universities was formed and Thomas J. Hamilton was in the MPSF in indoor track and has competed since 1950 in the appointed commissioner of the new league. The original AAWU Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association (RMISA) in skiing, membership included California, Stanford, Southern California, which is a coed sport. UCLA and Washington. Washington State joined the membership The Pac-12 Conference offices are located in the heart of San in 1962, while Oregon and Oregon State joined in 1964. Under Francisco’s downtown district and are headquartered in the same Hamilton’s watch, the name Pacific-8 Conference was adopted in building as the Pac-12 Network. 1968. In 1971, Wiles Hallock took over as commissioner of the Pac-8. Conference of Champions On July 1, 1978, the University of Arizona and Arizona State Built on a firm foundation of academic excellence and superior University were admitted to the league and the Pacific-10 athletic performance, the Conference ushered in a new era on Conference became a reality. In 1986-87, the league took on a July 1, 2011, officially becoming the Pac-12 Conference with the new look, expanding to include 10 women’s sports. Tom Hansen additions of the University of Colorado and University of Utah. was named the commissioner of the Pac-10 in 1983, a role he Just 27 days after the Conference officially changed its name, would hold for 26 years until 2009. Hansen was succeeded by Commissioner Larry Scott announced the creation of the Pac-12 current commissioner Larry Scott, who took on the new role in Networks, solidifying a landmark television deal and putting the July 2009. Conference on the forefront of collegiate athletics. The Networks, During the 2010-11 academic year, Scott helped deliver including one national network, six regional networks, and a monumental changes that transformed the conference into a robust digital network marked the first-ever integrated media modern 12-team league by adding the University of Colorado and company owned by a college conference. In addition, the “TV the University of Utah. The addition of CU and Utah led to an Everywhere” rights allow fans to access Pac-12 Networks outside agreement to equal revenue sharing for the first time in conference the home on any digital device, including smartphones and tablet history, created two divisions (North and South) for football only, computers. established a football championship game for the first time ever, That same year, the Pac-12 also launched its Globalization secured a landmark media rights deal that dramatically increased Initiative to proactively promote the Conference and member national exposure and revenue for each school and established institutions through student-athlete exchanges and sport, as in the Pac-12 Network and Pac-12 Digital Network that guaranteed the first five years, Pac-12 student-athletes have enjoyed unique enhanced exposure across all sports. cultural and athletic experiences in several foreign nations. In the Colorado accepted its invitation to join the Pac-12 on June 11, past year, the Pac-12 became the first conference to have all of its 2010, as the Buffaloes were the first domino to fall in a change of schools become members of the Green Sports Alliance. the national landscape which, in just one week, saw Nebraska On the field, courts and in the pools of play, the Pac-12 rises also leave the Big 12 and join the Big 10, Boise State depart the above the rest, upholding its tradition as the “Conference of WAC for the Mountain West, TCU jump from the MWC for the Big Champions®,” claiming an incredible 163 NCAA team titles since East (before eventually landing in the Big 12). Less than a week 1999-2000. For the 12th consecutive year, the Pac-12 had the later on June 17, Utah agreed to join CU to make it an even dozen most NCAA titles of any conference in the country, having won at

24 2017-18 Colorado Women’s Basketball pac-12 Conference

least six every year since 2000-01, including 23 over the last two years. No other conference has ever won 10 or more in a single athletic year, looking up at the 2016-17 QUICK REVIEW record 14 the Pac-12 won in 1996-97 and now 13 in 2016-17. Even more impressive In the 2016-17 academic year, the Pac-12’s has been the breadth of the Pac-12’s success, with championships coming in 28 13 NCAA titles came in the form of a record 10 different men’s and women’s sports. The Pac-12 has led or tied the nation in NCAA women’s crowns, along with two men’s and one Championships in 51 of the last 57 years (and was second four times and third coed title. twice). Living up to its well-deserved billing of Spanning over a century of outstanding athletics achievements, the Pac-12 was “Conference of Champions®,” seven different the first conference to reach 200, 300, 400 and now 500 championships; despite league schools claimed NCAA titles including having two fewer members than three of the other four so-called “Power 5” three of the seven nationally that won multiples conferences, the Pac-12 outdistances the next conference by nearly 200 crowns. crowns (Stanford was one of two that won four). In all, Pac-12 conference teams have won 501 NCAA Championships (297 men’s, In 24 national championship events, Pac-12 174 women’s, 30 coed). schools earned 38 (out of a possible 96) top four finishes, with Oregon completing the first- Individually, the Conference has produced an impressive number of NCAA ever “Triple Crown,” winning women’s national individual champions, as through the 2016-17 school year, 2,292 individual crowns titles in cross country and both indoor and have been won by Pac-12 student-athletes over the years (1,358 in men’s outdoor track and field. Stanford’s four titles championships, 749 in women’s and 185 in coed, e.g. skiing). came in men’s soccer, women’s swimming, On the women’s side, the story is much the same. Since the NCAA began women’s water polo and women’s volleyball. conducting women’s championships 36 years ago, Pac-12 members have claimed USC claimed the women’s soccer and beach at least four national titles in a single season on 27 occasions, including 17 volleyball championships. Arizona State consecutive years from 2001-2017. (women’s golf), California (men’s water polo), Utah (skiing, holding off CU) and Washington (women’s rowing) rounded out the league’s victories. While Colorado did not win an NCAA title in 2016-17 and the school’s count remains at 27, the Buffaloes finished second in skiing, third in women’s cross country (sixth in men’s) and seventh in women’s indoor track. CU has won 20 skiing titles (11 men’s, one AIAW women’s and eight coed) and seven cross country (five men’s, two women’s); the Buffs also were the consensus national champions in football in 1990, but since it is not an NCAA-sanctioned championship, it doesn’t count toward the Pac- 12’s total of 501.

CU won back-to-back men’s NCAA cross country titles in 2013 and 2014.

Petra Hyncicova won both the David Ketterer swept the giant slalom Dani Jones was the 2017 national classic and freestyle races and slalom races at the 2017 NCAA champion in the indoor 3,000-meter run. at the 2017 NCAA’s. Ski Championships.

13 NCAA Tournaments, 6 Sweet Sixteens, 3 Elite Eights 25