High Stakes for Coaches at Duke, Stanford, Oregon, and Tennessee in 2024-25
- Several women’s college basketball coaches in the U.S. are facing critical seasons in 2024-25 that will test their leadership.
- Notable challenges include a largely new roster for UNC's Courtney Banghart and a need to improve against ranked teams for Michigan's Kim Barnes Arico.
- This upcoming season represents both a significant opportunity for renewal and a high-stakes challenge for these coaches to prove themselves.
In the United States, the upcoming 2024-25 women’s college basketball season brings significant pressure on several coaches who must demonstrate their ability to succeed. Courtney Banghart at North Carolina, with a record of 20-13 from the previous season, faces the challenge of guiding a largely new roster in a new conference. Similarly, Kim Barnes Arico at Michigan has established a strong legacy but must overcome a dismal record against ranked teams to reaffirm her program's competitiveness. Tennessee's Caldwell, the program's least experienced head coach, is tasked with reviving the team's long-standing tradition amidst skepticism. Both Oregon's Graves and Duke's Lawson seek to rectify disappointing seasons, while Stanford enters a transition period with Paye taking over from the legendary VanDerveer, raising questions about her leadership style. These scenarios underscore a heightened interest in women's basketball and the necessity for these coaches to respond effectively to both internal and external expectations during the coming season.