Beyond the Buckets | Episode #149| Willette White - Former Division 1 Basketball Coach

Beyond the Buckets | Episode #149| Willette White - Former Division 1 Basketball Coach

Willette White boasts a remarkable four-decade career as both a standout college athlete and a distinguished coach. As a two-time All-Region and All-American player at the University of Idaho, she earned the prestigious honor of induction into three basketball Hall of Fames. Throughout her coaching tenure, White has remained steadfast in her commitment to empowering young female athletes and their families to navigate the intricate terrain of college selection with confidence and clarity.

With over 35 years of invaluable experience in the realm of collegiate women's basketball, White has served as the Director of Operations for the Utes for the past six years, following an initial stint as an assistant coach from 2011 to 2013. Notably, she has also lent her expertise to the esteemed USA Basketball program, having served as an assistant on UConn coach Geno Auriemma's staff for the 2001 U19 Junior World Championships. 

Additionally, White contributed her insights to the USA Basketball Women's Collegiate Committee from 2001 to 2004. Her profound impact extends throughout the Pac-12 (26-years), where she has left her mark at esteemed institutions such as the University of Washington, UCLA, Northeastern University, the University of Oregon, and the University of Utah.

White understands that the journey to success for aspiring athletes transcends mere college acceptance. She recognizes the myriad emotional challenges that can arise, threatening to derail athletes off the court. Leveraging her wealth of experience, White emphasizes the importance of fostering enduring relationships and providing unwavering support throughout the transition from the comforts of home to the demanding rigors of collegiate athletics.

Upon retiring from Women's Basketball in 2019, she found herself contemplating her next steps. Time and again, her thoughts gravitated towards the welfare of student athletes and how she could continue to support them in a new capacity. Memories of the challenges many student athletes faced upon arriving on campus flooded her mind, and it was from these reflections that her idea for Next Step with Passion and Purpose emerged.