CEDAR CITY, Utah (SUUtbirds.com)-Wednesday, Southern Utah University announced the hiring of the Thunderbirds’ new women’s basketball coach.
In a joint announcement from the SUU athletics department and athletic director Debbie Corum, former Saint Mary’s women’s basketball assistant Tracy Sanders assumed the position.
Corum stated “Tracy was one of the favorites from our very first conversation with her.” Corum further confirmed that Sanders’ “vivacious personality is infectious” and hopes it will permeate the program.
Sanders has been at Saint Mary’s for the past 12 seasons, serving under Gaels head coach Paul Thomas and has been the Gaels’ associate head coach for the past five seasons.
At the time of her hiring by SUU, he responsibilities at Saint Mary’s entailed coordinating all recruiting aspects, scouting opponents, game preparation and player development.
Sanders stated she is “extremely honored and excited for the opportunity” to lead the Thunderbirds’ program and looks forward to building a winning tradition in Cedar City.
During her time with the Gaels, Sanders primarily worked with the posts and developed a pair of West Coast Conference players of the year, a two-time WCC defender of the year and a WCC Tournament MVP.
Sanders commenced her coaching career in 2000 after a playing career at Saint Mary’s, which saw her as a four-year letter winner for the Gaels between 1996-2000.
She finished her career as the WCC’s second all-time leading scorer and led the WCC in scoring three times.
Sanders also helped lead the Gaels to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1999 as well as to the WNIT in 2000.
Sanders was inducted into the Gaels’ Hall of Fame in 2007 and the WCC’s Hall of Honor in 2014.
