Photo Courtesy of Instagram (@sundevilwbb)
Natasha Adair is the latest addition to Arizona State University’s women’s basketball team.
The 49-year-old woman is the new head coach since Charli Turner Thorne, 55, retired earlier this month. The university released an official statement Sunday. Turner Thorne coached the team for 25 years,
“I am thrilled and honored to be named the new head women’s basketball coach here at Arizona State University,” Adair said about her new position. “President Crow and our Vice President of University Athletics, Ray Anderson, have efficiently built an elite university and athletics program that is innovative with a national product; I am honored to be part of this illustrious team.”
Turner Thorne is leaving the university with a final record of 488-294.
Adair is no stranger to the court, making her an ideal replacement. She played for the University of South Florida in 1994 and has previously coached in Delaware, where she coached for five seasons and scored a record of 95-58 along with two consecutive 20-win seasons. Adair was also the first Black woman coach to lead the team. In 2021, the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) named Adair Coach of The Year after the Blue Hens made it to the WNIT semifinals under her guidance.
The new head coach expressed how her 30 years of experience prepped her for the role.
“For nearly three decades, I’ve had the honor and privilege to coach and develop women student-athletes and am grateful for the opportunity to continue to do so here at ASU and in the Pac-12.”
Adair continued, “From the moment I stepped onto campus, I knew this was the place for me to build and grow our women’s basketball program to a national power. We truly have it all. I am committed to leading with character and passion, ensuring our student-athletes win on and off the court, graduate, and serve – the ‘Sun Devil Way’! ASU has a tradition of success, and me and my staff will work tirelessly to win.”
Arizona State’s Sun Devils’ last game of the season was on March 2 during the Pac-12 Tournament, where they lost to Oregon State with a score of 54-59. The last few games before the Pac-12 Tournament show the team struggling to dominate with scores like 58-65 against Washington State on February 18 and 52-59 against UCLA on Feb.
Hopefully, the next season will be better for the team.