Former Havre high standout hooper Loree Payne is on the move in her coaching career. After eight seasons at the helm of the Northern Arizona University’s women’s basketball program, it was announced earlier this week that she would become the new head women’s basketball coach at Santa Clara University in Northern California.
“I am incredibly honored and excited to be named the next head coach of Santa Clara women’s basketball,” Payne said in the press release. “I am thankful to Northern Arizona University and the amazing student-athletes I had the privilege to coach there. Their hard work, commitment, and belief in our shared vision have had a profound impact on me both personally and professionally.”
Payne has gone (266-174) in a combined 15 seasons as a head women’s basketball coach, including the first seven at the University of Puget Sound just outside of Seattle. 2024-25 was historic as the NAU women won a program-record 27 games and defeated Arizona in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT).
She was a standout collegiate player at the University of Washington, collecting All-Pac 10 first-team selection honors twice. At Havre High, Payne was a state champion, winning it all in the 1997-98 season. Her 1995-96 season also garnished a third-place trophy, which was the last one until 2024-25 when this year’s Ponies took home some hardware in Billings.
Congratulations to former Havre basketball player Loree Payne on her move to Santa Clara and continued success on the court.
