STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford's Harry K. and Ida S. Berland Associate Head Women's Basketball Coach Kate Paye was named the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Assistant Coach of the Year for Division I, the organization announced Wednesday.
The honor is Paye's second in three seasons. She was also voted the WBCA DI Assistant Coach of the Year in 2022. Paye is also the first two-time, DI winner of the award, which was instituted in 2016.
The WBCA Assistant Coach of the Year award is presented to one associate head coach or assistant coach in each membership division who demonstrates commitment to their program, their student-athletes and their head coach; their impact coaching on court; their mentorship and impact on other coaches; and their professional manner and attitude.
A 1992 national champion as a player at Stanford, Paye is in her 17th season on the bench at her alma mater and eighth as associate head coach. Since Paye's return to Stanford in 2007-08, the Cardinal has been one of the top teams in the nation, going 525-86 (.859) and winning the 2021 national championship, advancing to two other title games, nine total Final Fours and the Sweet Sixteen all but one year. Paye's responsibilities with the program include working with the perimeter players, overseeing the defense, opponent scouting and recruiting. Stanford's 525 wins in Paye's time as an assistant are the second-most of any team in the nation over the last 17 seasons.
Under Paye's tutelage, the Cardinal's perimeter players have garnered national and conference awards and recognition and established program and personal bests. Since 2007-08, the guards coached by Paye have been selected in the first round of the WNBA Draft six times, captured four first team All-America nods, three Pac-12 Player of the Year awards, two Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year awards and 28 first team All-Pac-12 selections.
Paye was also named the 2022 Assistant Coach of the Year by the WBCA in leading Stanford to both the Pac-12 regular season and tournament championships and a run to the Final Four. Lexie Hull became Stanford's highest draft pick in eight years, going No. 6 overall to the Indiana Fever.
