April 22, 2003
LOGAN, Utah - Utah State head women's basketball coach Raegan Scott-Pebley announced the hiring of Tricia Bader-Binford as an assistant coach Tuesday.
Bader-Binford, a WNBA player since 1998, has spent the last four seasons with the Cleveland Rockers, and worked as an assistant women's basketball coach at Boise State from 1999-2001.
"I'm extremely excited to work with Raegan," said Bader-Binford. "It's an enticing situation at Utah State - to be in a position to start something big. It will be a challenge, but I'm looking forward to it. The players and staff members I met were great. I'm very excited."
"Tricia is a perfect fit for our program," said Scott-Pebley. "She will help in many areas, including recruiting and guard development. Her philosophy on coaching and helping improve student-athletes' lives, both on and off the court, fit in with the rest of the staff's."
Bader-Binford was the 31st draft pick in the 1998 WNBA draft and spent 1998 and part of 1999 with the Utah Starzz. She has played for the Cleveland Rockers since 1999, and was on the 2001 Eastern Conference Championship team. A 2001 Boise State Hall of Fame inductee, she is the BSU career assist leader (448), second among steals leaders (271) and fifth on the total points list (1,171). Bader-Binford was the Idaho NCAA Woman of the Year in 1996, and graduated with honors from Boise State with a degree in criminal justice in December, 1995.
"Her experience in the WNBA, in the NCAA, with USA Basketball and time spent playing internationally will only benefit us," Scott-Pebley said. "She has achieved success at every level at which she's competed."
"My husband and I love the location of Utah State," Bader-Binford said. "I'm familiar with the Big West Conference from my time at Boise State. I'm also very excited about the community support Utah State women's basketball has generated without even playing a game."
Utah State reinstated its women's basketball program on March 5, 2002, after a 15-year absence. The Aggies begin play in the 2003-04 season.
