SMU reportedly hires Arizona’s Adia Barnes as next women’s basketball coach

SMU is likely to hire Arizona’s Adia Barnes as its next head women’s basketball coach, sources told On3’s Talia Goodman on Friday. It’s the first major hire for new athletic director Damon Evans, who cut ties with Toyelle Wilson last weekend.

Barnes, a former WNBA player and standout for the Arizona Wildcats during her collegiate career, has been the head coach of her alma mater since 2016. Under her leadership, Arizona women’s basketball rose to national prominence, highlighted by an impressive run to the NCAA championship game in 2021, where the Wildcats narrowly lost to Stanford 54-53.

During her tenure, Barnes compiled a 169-114 overall record and a 78-81 conference record, navigating the program through the competitive Pac-12 and, most recently, the transition to the Big 12.

This season, the Wildcats finished 10-8 in league play and 19-14 overall. The 19 wins extended head coach’s streak to seven consecutive seasons with at least 18 victories and included a marquee win over No. 16 West Virginia.

Barnes led Arizona to an appearance in the 2021 National Championship, falling to Stanford in the title game. She was named a 2021 Naismith Coach of the Year Semifinalist that year.

Now, Barnes is charged with leading SMU back to relevancy. Wilson’s team this season had some embarrassing moments, including a 32-point blown lead to Pitt where the Mustangs didn’t score in the 3rd quarter.

“With the investments the University and our donors have made in support of SMU Athletics, we have shown we belong in the ACC and expect to compete for championships,” Evans said when he announced the change. “With all that our campus and community have to offer – the value of an SMU degree, our prime location in Dallas, our top-tier facilities, the NIL opportunities for our student-athletes and more – we believe we are well-positioned to stand alongside the nation’s best programs.”

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