STANFORD, Calif. – Kate Paye has rounded out her staff with the addition of Heather Oesterle as an assistant coach, Stanford's Setsuko Ishiyama Director of Women's Basketball announced Thursday. Oesterle is making a return to The Farm after an accomplished coaching career that began with the Cardinal in 2002-03.
"Heather is a wonderful addition to round out our coaching staff and I'm so excited to have her join us at Stanford," Paye said. "She has a wealth of coaching experience and is a perfect fit for our program. It's a full-circle moment to bring her back to The Farm and I know our team and staff will learn a great deal from having her on board."
"I am beyond excited and grateful for the opportunity to be on Kate's first-ever staff as head coach," Oesterle said. "Twenty-two years ago, Tara and Amy gave me my start in the coaching business as their first-ever intern. To be able to come back to this prestigious university and work alongside Kate, Tempie and the rest of the staff is an honor and I feel very blessed. I'm looking forward to meeting the team and getting to work."
Oesterle spent last season as the strategic program director for Notre Dame women's basketball, where she served as the liaison for NIL education and brand-building for Fighting Irish student-athletes. Before that she as a four-year head coach at Central Michigan, winning the Mid-American Conference (MAC) regular-season title in 2020 and a MAC Tournament championship in 2021.
Prior to becoming the head coach at CMU, Oesterle served as an assistant in Mount Pleasant for nine seasons, including the final seven as associate head coach. During that time, she helped the team to three MAC championships, two MAC Tournament titles, and three trips to the NCAA Tournament, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2018.
Oesterle was an assistant at Northern Illinois from 2008-10 and at Miami (Ohio) from 2003-08. She was a volunteer assistant at Stanford in 2002-03, helping the Cardinal to a 27-5 finish, the Pac 10 regular-season and tournament titles, and an NCAA Tournament berth.
As a player, Oesterle was a four-year contributor at Michigan. She served as the Wolverines' team captain in 2001-02 and was honored with the program's Leadership Award following her senior season. She helped Michigan to a four-year record of 76-45 (.628), which included two NCAA Tournament and two NIT appearances.
A native of Mason, Mich., Oesterle earned her bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Michigan in 2002 and her masters in sports studies from Miami in 2008.