LOGAN, Utah — Utah State head women's basketball coach Kayla Ard announced the hiring of CJ Vaifanua-Pace as an assistant coach on Tuesday afternoon.
 
"We are thrilled to welcome CJ to our staff and to Cache Valley. She brings extensive, high level playing experiences, as well as 11 years of college coaching experience with her," Ard said. "We're grateful to her and to her family for believing in what we are doing here while wanting to help us build this program."
 
Vaifanua-Pace brings 11 years of collegiate coaching experience, including seven years as a head coach, to the position. Most recently, she served as the head coach at Division II CSU Monterey Bay for four seasons from 2018-22. 
 
"I am extremely grateful and appreciative to coach Kayla for giving me this opportunity," Vaifanua-Pace said. "While this new journey is coming at a very interesting time for my family and me, we couldn't be more excited to join the Aggie family. Everyone — administrators, staff members, players — have been so welcoming. I'm looking forward to helping our student-athletes become the best version of themselves, both on and off the court. I believe in what coach Kayla is seeking to get done here and I cannot wait to get started."
 
Prior to her time at CSU Monterey Bay, Vaifanua-Pace was the head coach for three seasons at East Georgia State College from 2015-18. There, she became the first coach in program history to lead the team to back-to-back GCAA Final Fours in 2017 and 2018. She was named the GCAA Coach of the Year in 2017. With the Bobcats, she helped develop three all-conference players including 2016-17 GCAA Player of the Year and NJCAA Second-Team All-American Shunseere Kent. 
 
Before becoming a head coach, Vaifanua-Pace served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Armstrong State in Savannah, Georgia, from 2013-15. She helped lead the Pirates to their first-ever NCAA Division II Sweet 16 appearance in 2014 and to back-to-back PBC Tournament appearances. 
 
Vaifanua-Pace got her coaching start as an assistant at Chipola College in 2011-12, before going on to hold the same position at Georgia Perimeter College in 2012-13. 
 
Prior to her coaching career, Vaifanua-Pace enjoyed a high level of success as a player at both the collegiate and professional levels. After beginning her career at Chipola College, she played her final two college seasons at South Carolina. As a senior under Hall of Fame coach Dawn Staley, Vaifanua-Pace averaged 7.6 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while starting 24 games for the Gamecocks. She then went on to play professionally for two seasons in Portugal and Peru.
 
A native of Snellville, Georgia, Vaifanua-Pace earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of South Carolina in 2010 and a master's degree in management and athletic administration from Southern New Hampshire University in 2017.
 
Fans can follow USU women's basketball on Twitter, @USUWBasketball, on Instagram, @USUWBasketball, as well as on Facebook, at /USUWBB. Aggie fans can also follow Utah State Athletics on Twitter, @USUAthletics, on Instagram, @USUAthletics and on Facebook at /USUAthletics.
 
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