Completed Event: Women's Basketball at Eastern Kentucky on March 19, 2026 , Loss , 58, to, 72
Final Score
Women's Basketball
58
at Eastern Kentucky
72
The University of Utah Athletics
Getting To Know U: Willette White
8/7/2018 10:48 AM | Women's Basketball
Whether it is being a head coach or a student manager, each member of the Utah women's basketball staff plays a key role for the student-athletes who come through the program. Get to know the 2018-19 women's basketball staff through a series called "Getting to know U". Willette White, Utah's Director of Administration and Operations, is entering her eighth year with the team.
Q: What is your hometown?
A: Lakewood, Washington, a suburb south of Seattle and Tacoma.
Q: Why did you decide to get into college coaching?
A: My college coach at the time, was Tara Vanderveer. She offered me a chance to earn my master's degree and to be a graduate assistant for women's basketball at Ohio State University. I really didn't know what I was going to do after graduation until she offered me that opportunity.
Q: What did you get your degree in and from where?
A: I received my undergraduate degree in general studies from the University of Idaho. I received my master's degree, in athletic administration from Ohio State.
Q: What all is involved in being a director of operations for a Division I women's basketball program?
A: So much of my job is logistics. I do all the day to day management and player management. I am the liaison to academics, compliance office and the equipment room for our program. I also coordinate our team travel, supervise our scout team and am in charge of the managers. I coordinate scheduling of facilities and work closely with our game operations people. Most importantly, I get to be a part of 14 amazing young women's lives.
Q: What made you want to come to Utah?
A: Utah was just joining the Pac-12, so that was exciting. I had spent 18 years in the Pac-10 and was excited to be a part of the Pac-12. The beauty of the mountains was stunning and living in a smaller city the size of SLC was appealing. Â
Q: What have been some of your favorite memories while with Utah women's basketball? Â
A: Having the opportunity to go on two foreign tours, one to Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway and Denmark) and the other to Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice and Lake Como).
Q: What are your favorite things to do in Utah?
A: Eating good food, moderate hikes, hanging with friends and now Glamping.Â
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Salt Lake City?
A: I love Sapa's, Ekami Somi and R&R BBQ.
Q: What is your favorite road trip with women's basketball and why?Â
A: It's hard to choose one so I would have to say Washington, Oregon and LA. I enjoy going back to Seattle and playing at UW. Seattle is home and I worked at UW for eight years. I love going to Eugene because I lived there for three years and I have a great group of friends that I try to see while we are there. Going to LA in the middle of Utah winter is fun and I love playing at UCLA.
Q: What is something most people might not know about you?
A: If I told you then they would know. I only played two years at the University of Idaho and IÂ rank ninth in career assists.
Q: Who have been some of the biggest influences in your life and why?Â
Q: My father. He taught me many life lessons, one being "always save your money for a rainy day."
Q: If you could have a super power, what would it be and why?
A: I love to travel, but I get tired of planes, so I think I want the ability to teleport.
Q: If you could invent a holiday, what would it be?
A: I would want a holiday for the day that Slavery was abolished on Dec. 6 (1865).
Q: If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?
A: Disburse a set amount to each family member and my closest friends. Donate to a foundation that empowers people of color to complete their education, enter the workforce and navigate societal barriers. Design and build a smaller home, minimize my living and travel the world.
Â
Q: What is your hometown?
A: Lakewood, Washington, a suburb south of Seattle and Tacoma.
Q: Why did you decide to get into college coaching?
A: My college coach at the time, was Tara Vanderveer. She offered me a chance to earn my master's degree and to be a graduate assistant for women's basketball at Ohio State University. I really didn't know what I was going to do after graduation until she offered me that opportunity.
Q: What did you get your degree in and from where?
A: I received my undergraduate degree in general studies from the University of Idaho. I received my master's degree, in athletic administration from Ohio State.
Q: What all is involved in being a director of operations for a Division I women's basketball program?
A: So much of my job is logistics. I do all the day to day management and player management. I am the liaison to academics, compliance office and the equipment room for our program. I also coordinate our team travel, supervise our scout team and am in charge of the managers. I coordinate scheduling of facilities and work closely with our game operations people. Most importantly, I get to be a part of 14 amazing young women's lives.
Q: What made you want to come to Utah?
A: Utah was just joining the Pac-12, so that was exciting. I had spent 18 years in the Pac-10 and was excited to be a part of the Pac-12. The beauty of the mountains was stunning and living in a smaller city the size of SLC was appealing. Â
Q: What have been some of your favorite memories while with Utah women's basketball? Â
A: Having the opportunity to go on two foreign tours, one to Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway and Denmark) and the other to Italy (Rome, Florence, Venice and Lake Como).
Q: What are your favorite things to do in Utah?
A: Eating good food, moderate hikes, hanging with friends and now Glamping.Â
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Salt Lake City?
A: I love Sapa's, Ekami Somi and R&R BBQ.
Q: What is your favorite road trip with women's basketball and why?Â
A: It's hard to choose one so I would have to say Washington, Oregon and LA. I enjoy going back to Seattle and playing at UW. Seattle is home and I worked at UW for eight years. I love going to Eugene because I lived there for three years and I have a great group of friends that I try to see while we are there. Going to LA in the middle of Utah winter is fun and I love playing at UCLA.
Q: What is something most people might not know about you?
A: If I told you then they would know. I only played two years at the University of Idaho and IÂ rank ninth in career assists.
Q: Who have been some of the biggest influences in your life and why?Â
Q: My father. He taught me many life lessons, one being "always save your money for a rainy day."
Q: If you could have a super power, what would it be and why?
A: I love to travel, but I get tired of planes, so I think I want the ability to teleport.
Q: If you could invent a holiday, what would it be?
A: I would want a holiday for the day that Slavery was abolished on Dec. 6 (1865).
Q: If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?
A: Disburse a set amount to each family member and my closest friends. Donate to a foundation that empowers people of color to complete their education, enter the workforce and navigate societal barriers. Design and build a smaller home, minimize my living and travel the world.
Â
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