Loree Payne

Head Women’s Basketball Coach
Northern Arizona University

Experience

2017 – Present: Head Coach, Northern Arizona University

2010 – 2017: Head Coach, University of Puget Sound

2007 – 2010: Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, University of Washington

2004 – 2007: Assistant Coach, University of Portland

2003 – 2004: Assistant Coach, Northwest Nazarene University

1999 – 2003: Player/Team Captain (00-03), University of Washington

Education

Present: University of Puget Sound, Masters, Counseling

2003: University of Washington, Bachelors, Psychology

Personal

Hometown: Havre, MT

Career Highlights

Career Division I Wins
114

Career Record
244-166 (.595)

20+ Win Seasons (4)
2023-24, 2022-23, 2016-17, 2014-15

Winning Seasons (12)
2023-24, 2022-23, 2021-22, 2020-21, 2019-20, 2016-17, 2015-16, 2014-15, 2013-14, 2012-13, 2011-12, 2010-11

Power Five Wins (1)
Pac-12

Conference Coach of the Year (3)
2022-23 Big Sky & 2016-17, 2015-16 NWC

Conference Regular Season Championships (2)
2022-23 Big Sky & 2016-17 NWC

NCAA Tournament Berths (2)
2016-17, 2014-15

Other Post-Season Berths (3)
2023-24, 2022-23 WNIT & 2020-21 WBI

Has led Northern Arizona to a 114-108 (.514) record, five consecutive winning seasons, two 21+ win seasons, and two post-season berths – rebuilt a program that had not had a winning season in the 10 seasons prior to her arrival (89-206 (.302) overall and 54-120 (.310) Big Sky Conference record during span)

In 2023-24, led NAU to the most single-season (25) and Big Sky Conference (t-15) wins in program history

The 2022-23 Big Sky Coach of the Year, led NAU to only the program’s second Big Sky Conference Regular Season Championship in program history (first in 25 seasons)

In 2022-23, guided NAU to second-most single-season wins (21), second-most Big Sky Conference wins (13), and first WNIT berth in program history

In 2021-22, led NAU to the program’s most single-season wins (17) in 15 seasons and second-most Big Sky Conference wins (12 – matched 2019-20) in program history

In 2020-21, guided NAU to only the second post-season appearance and first post-season win in program history

In 2019-20, led NAU to the program’s first winning season (16-15) in 13 seasons and second-most Big Sky Conference wins (12) in program history

NAU’s scoring offense finished ranked 1st in the Big Sky in 2023-24, 2022-23, and 2021-22

NAU ranked 19th nationally in 2023-24, 20th in 2019-20, and 12th in 2018-19 (first appearance in program history) in the WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll

As NAU’s Head Coach, has recruited and coached 15 Big Sky All-Conference Team selections, as well as two Newcomers of the Year

The two-time Northwest Conference Coach of the Year, led Puget Sound to a 130-58 (.691) record, one Northwest Conference Regular Season Championship, and two NCAA Tournament berths

In 2016-17, guided Puget Sound to the first outright Northwest Conference Regular Season Championship and most single-season wins (26 – breaking the record of 24, which was matched in 2014-15 ) in program history

Puget Sound’s scoring offense finished nationally ranked 6th in 2016-17 and 20th in 2015-16

A two-time Pac-10 Conference First-Team All-Conference selection and three-time Team Captain at Washington, scored over 1,600 career points and helped lead the program to one Pac-10 Conference Regular Season Championship and two NCAA Tournament berths (one Elite 8 appearance)

A 2009 inductee into the Montana High School Associate Hall of Fame

Head Coach Record