Adia Barnes Appointed SMU Women’s Basketball Coach

    By
    @USLive
    -
    0
    0

    DALLAS — Adia Barnes has been appointed as the new head coach for the SMU women’s basketball team, following her successful nine-year tenure at Arizona, where she guided the Wildcats to the NCAA national championship game four years ago.

    Barnes steps into her role at SMU, taking over from a program that last season ended with a 10-20 record during its debut in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Within the league, the Mustangs faced a tough stretch, winning only 2 of their 18 games.

    This shift in leadership arises a week after Toyelle Wilson was dismissed from her position, having compiled a 55-64 overall record over four years. SMU’s standout achievement in past tournaments was making it to the NCAA Tournament once, during the 2007-08 season.

    During her time at Arizona, Barnes amassed a record of 169 wins and 114 losses. Under her guidance, the Wildcats participated in four straight NCAA women’s tournaments from 2021 to 2024. Her tenure included a notable 54-53 defeat to Stanford in the 2021 national championship game. In their first season as part of the Big 12, the Wildcats ended with a 19-14 record and achieved 10 victories in conference play.

    Barnes boasts an impressive playing résumé, having scored 2,237 points during her college career at Arizona between 1994 and 1998. She then went on to play professionally for 12 years in the WNBA and overseas, even being part of the Seattle team that clinched the WNBA championship in 2004. Additionally, Barnes has experience as an assistant coach with Washington.

    Expressing enthusiasm about her new role, Barnes stated, “Having seen the commitment and alignment on the Hilltop, I believe we can compete on the national stage and for ACC championships. My family and I can’t wait to get to Dallas and I can’t wait to get to work.”

    Meanwhile, Arizona conveyed their gratitude to Barnes in a statement, appreciating her significant contributions over nine seasons and acknowledging the profound impact she left on the Wildcats’ program.