Mid-Major connections to women’s Final Four

KINGSTON, RI - JANUARY 06: Temple Owls head coach Dawn Staley coaches during a timeout in a women's college basketball game between the Temple Owls and the Rhode Island Rams on January 6, 2002, at the Thomas M. Ryan Center in Kingston, RI. (Photo by Joseph Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

There hasn’t been a mid-major team in the women’s NCAA Tournament since the first round. But as the tournament has come down to the Final Four there are still several mid-major connections for the four teams in Phoenix – particularly among the coaching staffs.

UConn

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UCLA

Tony Newnan – Associate Head Coach

Newnan was on the staff at UC Santa Barbara from 1993-2000. He ended his tenure with the Gauchos as associate head coach. UCSB claimed six Big West conference titles with him on staff.

Tasha Brown – Assistant Coach

Brown also coached at UC Santa Barbara but was there after Newman. She was on staff from 2001-05 and was with the Gauchos when they reached the Sweet 16 in 2004. She also coached at Bradley and Dayton.

James Clark – Assistant Coach

Clark played at West Georgia before the Wolves made the jump to Division I for the last two seasons.

Texas

Lovisa Asbrink Hose – Sophomore Center

The Swede played one season at Florida Atlantic before transferring to the Longhorns this season. She averaged 3.4 and 3.8 rebounds points per game for the Owls.

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Vic Schaefer – Head Coach

Schaefer was the head coach at Sam Houston State from 1990-97. He was named the Southland Conference Coach of the Year in 1996. He also served as an assistant coach on the men’s team from 1987-89.

Elena Lovato – Associate Head Coach

Lovato was an assistant at Omaha (2011-12) and Houston (2007-09). That was back when the Cougars were in Conference USA.

Mason Wright – Assistant Coach

Wright went to Stephen F. Austin and was a practice player and on the scout team for the women’s basketball team.

South Carolina

Dawn Staley – Head Coach

Staley is the winningest coach in Temple women’s basketball history. She went 172-80 in her eight seasons (2000-08) leading the Owls. She won a pair of Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year awards and led them to six NCAA Tournaments.

Lisa Boyer – Associate Head Coach

Boyer has extensive mid-major experience. She was an assistant for Staley at Temple from 2002-08. She was the head coach at Bradley from 1986-96. She was also an assistant at Miami (OH), East Carolina and Davidson in the 80s.

Jolette Law – Assistant Coach

Law began her coaching career as an assistant at Ball State. She also played with the Harlem Globetrotters from 1990-94.

Wendale Farrow – Assistant Coach

Farrow played his final two college seasons at Eastern Michigan and graduated in 2009.

Mary Wooley – Assistant Coach

Wooley worked as graduate extern and director of basketball operations under Staley at Temple. She then served as an assistant coach and associate head coach at Hawaii. She then went to Loyola (Md.) as an assistant.

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