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The University of Utah Athletics
Women's Basketball's Willette White Announces Retirement
4/8/2019 9:31 AM | Women's Basketball
SALT LAKE CITY – University of Utah director of women's basketball administration and operations Willette White has announced her retirement after her eighth season with the Utes.
"The University of Utah athletics department will always hold a special place in my heart," White said. "I am so thankful to have been a part of the women's basketball program for the last eight years. Seeing the growth and changes within Utah athletics and being a part of the rise of Utah women's basketball has been absolutely amazing. I will always be a Ute fan."
White, who has over 30 years of experience in the field of collegiate women's basketball, has been the director of operations for the Utes for the past six years after spending her first two seasons as an assistant coach from 2011-13.
"There is sadness and excitement as I wrap up my time in women's basketball," she said. "I look back on the memories, the moments, and the exciting times with joy and gratitude in my heart. My most meaningful relationships were created through my 36-year journey in women's basketball."
During her time in operations, White has been integral in creating an outstanding student-athlete experience for Utah women's basketball players. She was responsible for projects that included team travel, payer management, and also was a key part in the development of the $23 million Jon M. and Karen Huntsman Basketball Center that opened in the fall of 2015.
"Willette has had such a fantastic career in college women's basketball," head coach Lynne Roberts said. "We have been honored to have her on staff here at Utah. Everywhere we travel as a team, somebody knows and love Willette. Her passion has always been to empower the young women she coached and was around."
"So many of the players that got the chance to have Willette on their staff still keep in touch with her and appreciate all she's done for them. Thriving in this profession for 36 years takes loyalty, integrity, and a commitment to the people you serve. Willette embodies those qualities and I'm so grateful to be able to have learned from her the past four years. We will miss her in our day-to-day, but she'll always be a part of our Utah family."
Her experience in the Pac-12 runs deep, spending three seasons at Oregon (2006-09) before coming to Utah. Before her six seasons as the head coach at Northeastern, transitioning them from the America East to the Colonial Athletic Association, she spent seven seasons as the associate head coach at UCLA.
At UCLA, the helped the program win their first Pac-10 championships and advance to the national quarterfinals. It was UCLA's first-ever trip to the Elite Eight with the Bruins finishing with an overall record of 26-8.
Before her stint at UCLA, the Tacoma, Wash., native was at the University of Washington for eight seasons, helping the Huskies compile at 181-59 record. They won three conference titles and reached the NCAA Tournament seven times during her time in Seattle.
Outside of the college coaching realm, White also spent time with USA Basketball. She served as an assistant to Geno Auriemma, UConn's women's basketball head coach, for the 2001 U19 Junior World Championships, helping the team to a bronze medal. She also spent time on the USA Basketball Women's Collegiate Committee from 2001-04.
In her playing days, White started her career at Green River Community College for two years before transferring to Idaho. She led the Vandals to back-to-back NCWSA Northwest Region Titles (1980-81) and a pair of berths in the AIAW Division II national tournament.
She is a two-time AIAW All-Region selection and was a Division II All-American in 1981. White also still ranks in the top-10 all-time at Idaho in single-game assists (15) and steals (9), single-season assists (206) and steals (89) and career assists (356).
In 1992, White was inducted into the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges' Hall of Fame and entered the Vandal Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008. She received her bachelor's in general studies from Idaho in 1982 and went on to earn her Master of Arts in athletic administration from Ohio State in 1984 where she was a graduate assistant for their women's basketball program.
"The University of Utah athletics department will always hold a special place in my heart," White said. "I am so thankful to have been a part of the women's basketball program for the last eight years. Seeing the growth and changes within Utah athletics and being a part of the rise of Utah women's basketball has been absolutely amazing. I will always be a Ute fan."
White, who has over 30 years of experience in the field of collegiate women's basketball, has been the director of operations for the Utes for the past six years after spending her first two seasons as an assistant coach from 2011-13.
"There is sadness and excitement as I wrap up my time in women's basketball," she said. "I look back on the memories, the moments, and the exciting times with joy and gratitude in my heart. My most meaningful relationships were created through my 36-year journey in women's basketball."
During her time in operations, White has been integral in creating an outstanding student-athlete experience for Utah women's basketball players. She was responsible for projects that included team travel, payer management, and also was a key part in the development of the $23 million Jon M. and Karen Huntsman Basketball Center that opened in the fall of 2015.
"Willette has had such a fantastic career in college women's basketball," head coach Lynne Roberts said. "We have been honored to have her on staff here at Utah. Everywhere we travel as a team, somebody knows and love Willette. Her passion has always been to empower the young women she coached and was around."
"So many of the players that got the chance to have Willette on their staff still keep in touch with her and appreciate all she's done for them. Thriving in this profession for 36 years takes loyalty, integrity, and a commitment to the people you serve. Willette embodies those qualities and I'm so grateful to be able to have learned from her the past four years. We will miss her in our day-to-day, but she'll always be a part of our Utah family."
Her experience in the Pac-12 runs deep, spending three seasons at Oregon (2006-09) before coming to Utah. Before her six seasons as the head coach at Northeastern, transitioning them from the America East to the Colonial Athletic Association, she spent seven seasons as the associate head coach at UCLA.
At UCLA, the helped the program win their first Pac-10 championships and advance to the national quarterfinals. It was UCLA's first-ever trip to the Elite Eight with the Bruins finishing with an overall record of 26-8.
Before her stint at UCLA, the Tacoma, Wash., native was at the University of Washington for eight seasons, helping the Huskies compile at 181-59 record. They won three conference titles and reached the NCAA Tournament seven times during her time in Seattle.
Outside of the college coaching realm, White also spent time with USA Basketball. She served as an assistant to Geno Auriemma, UConn's women's basketball head coach, for the 2001 U19 Junior World Championships, helping the team to a bronze medal. She also spent time on the USA Basketball Women's Collegiate Committee from 2001-04.
In her playing days, White started her career at Green River Community College for two years before transferring to Idaho. She led the Vandals to back-to-back NCWSA Northwest Region Titles (1980-81) and a pair of berths in the AIAW Division II national tournament.
She is a two-time AIAW All-Region selection and was a Division II All-American in 1981. White also still ranks in the top-10 all-time at Idaho in single-game assists (15) and steals (9), single-season assists (206) and steals (89) and career assists (356).
In 1992, White was inducted into the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges' Hall of Fame and entered the Vandal Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008. She received her bachelor's in general studies from Idaho in 1982 and went on to earn her Master of Arts in athletic administration from Ohio State in 1984 where she was a graduate assistant for their women's basketball program.
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