University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Women's Basketball
Ethridge, Kamie
Kamie Ethridge
- Title:
- Head Women's Basketball Coach
- Email:
- kamie.ethridge@unco.edu
- Phone:
- 970.351.1713
Kamie Ethridge is entering her third season at the helm at Northern Colorado. She was hired as Northern Colorado's women's basketball coach on April 28, 2014. In her first season as the head coach she had a very successful year leading the Bears to a program high 22 wins and the third round of the WNIT. She followed it up by coaching the top scoring defense in the Big Sky during her second season
2015-16
In Ethridge's second season at Northern Colorado, she helped guide the Bears to a 13-16 season. UNC started the season off well with a 5-2 record entering a tough December schedule that featured a pair of NCAA Tournament teams. Throughout the season, Northern Colorado's defense was a key for the team, holding opponents to a Big Sky best 62.0 points per game. In conference play UNC would finish in the eighth place with a 8-10 Big Sky record. The Bears would fall to Idaho State in the first round of the conference tournament.
Ethridge helped the team become one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the nation averaging 8.1 threes a game, ranking 16th nationally and third overall in the Big Sky. Her team once again took good care of the ball turnning it over the second least in the Big Sky at a rate of 13.5. Another stregth that Ethridge has bulit in the UNC program is its free throw shooting. The team finished the season hitting 76.7 percent of its free throws to rank first in the Big Sky and 11th overall in the NCAA. The team once agian earned its second straight Top 10 percential spot for team APR.
During the season, Ethridge was also named as an assistant coach for USA Basketball's U18 team over the summer.
2014-15
Ethridge earned her first career victory on November 14 at SMU by the score of 57-44. The Bears would start the season 4-0, their best start since 2002-03. After a slow start in Big Sky play Northern Colorado would collect eight straight wins and finish in third place. The streak would expand all the way out to 10 games. During the win streak UNC snapped Montana's 23 game conference home game win streak that had extended over two years time.,
In the Big Sky Conference Tournament UNC defeated North Dakota (72-64) and Sacramento State (81-79 ot) to make the championship game against host Montana. The Bears would end up falling to the Griz 60-49. Northern Colorado's season was not over after the Big Sky Tournament though, as they received an invitation to the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT).,
For the first round of the WNIT, UNC faced in-state rival Colorado State in Fort Collins. The Bears defeated the Rams on their home court 53-48. UNC then hosted South Dakota in the second round winning a thrilling 59-58 game in front of a jam packed Bank of Colorado Arena to reach the third round of the tournament. Advancing to the third round of the WNIT is the furthest any team in Northern Colorado women's basketball Division I history. The Bears would end their season at historic Pauley Pavilion falling to UCLA 74-60.,
The 22 wins were not the only record Ethridge's first team broke. The team also set a record for points scored (2,307), 3-point field goals made (247) and assists (550) as a DI program. Individually Stephanie Lee, D'shara Strange, and Kyleigh Hiser set school season records. Lee set the record for points (598) and field goals made (248), Strange rebounds (314) and steals (104) and Hiser broke the 3-point field goals made record with 74. Lee and teammate Lindsay Mallon also broke school DI records in blocked shots (75) and assists (151), respectively.,
Ethridge helped lead two players to first team All-Big Sky honors in D'shara Strange and Stephanie Lee. Strange was named Co-MVP with Montana's Kelly Rubel. UNC was the only school to place two players on the first team. Strange and Lee were also on the Big Sky All-Tournament team. She also helped guide the team off the court to earn the program's WBCA Academic honor along with being recgonized by the NCAA for having one of the top APR raitings in the nation.
Over the summer between her first and second year, Ethridge was a court coach for the Junior National Trials.
Before Northern Colorado
Ethridge took the helm of Northern Colorado Women's Basketball after accruing a well-known reputation as one of the best teachers in the game. Her history of success stems far beyond her coaching career, earning a gold medal with the United States at the 1988 Olympics, winning an NCAA National Championship as a player and being inducted to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.
Ethridge spent the past 18 seasons as associate head coach at Kansas State, she was apart of a staff that took a team to nine NCAA postseason tournaments in 12 years, four WNIT postseason tournaments (including winning the 2006 WNIT Championship), and twice winning the Big 12 Championship title. The Wildcats advanced to six Sweet Sixteen appearances while totaling a record of 350-226 over that span.
Kansas State,became a force to be reckoned with in the Big 12 during Ethridge's tenure as an assistant, finishing with regular-season titles twice (2003-04 and 2007-08),and winning the postseason conference tournament twice (2003-04 and 2007-08).
In addition to her service with the Wildcats, Ethridge also served a four-year term on the USA Basketball Women's Player Selection Committee, which is responsible for the selection of numerous teams, including the World University Games, Pan American Games and Jones Cup teams. In the summer of 1999, she was invited to lead a point guard camp in Colorado Springs, Colo., for current, past and prospective USA Basketball talent.
Prior to her service at Kansas State, Ethridge spent five seasons with Vanderbilt as an assistant coach from 1991-96. The Commodores won the SEC postseason tournament twice en route to advancing to the Sweet Sixteen all five,seasons, including one Final Four trip in 1992-93. Ethridge played a major role in recruiting five high school Kodak All-Americans and 13 Gatorade State Players of the Year.
In her first year as an assistant coach, Ethridge joined the Northern Illinois program that advanced to the WNIT Postseason Tournament.
Ethridge began her,recognized success,with a prestigious playing,career at the University of Texas, including leading the Longhorns to and winning the 1986 national title game, where she was awarded the Most Valuable Player. She served as a team captain for the Longhorns while putting together the first perfect season in NCAA Division I history, finishing the season 34-0. Ethridge and Texas advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen every season while moving on to the Elite Eight twice.
A two-time Kodak All-American, Ethridge was honored with the Wade Trophy and the Honda Broderick Cup, awarded to the top female student-athlete in the country each year. The final jewel in her awards crown was the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Player of the Year Award, presented annually to the nation's top senior collegian under 5-foot-6 in height.
Ethridge continued her playing career after Texas while playing on the international level. She was a member of the U.S. gold medal-winning Olympic team at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea. Ethridge also won gold medals for Team USA at the 1986 Goodwill Games, 1986 World Championships and the 1987 Pan American Games.
As a prep star at Monterey High School in Lubbock, Ethridge was named the Player of the Year in the state of Texas.
Coaching Experience
Northern Colorado, Head Coach, 2014-present
Kansas State, Associate Head Coach, 1996-2014,
Vanderbilt, Assistant Coach, 1991-96
Northern Illinois, Assistant Coach, 1990-91
Northern Illinois, Graduate Assistant, 1989-90
Texas, Student Coach, 1987-88
Achievements
2002 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee
2000 Texas Women's Athletics Hall of Honor Inductee
2000 Texas Women's Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee
Southwest Conference All-Decade Team
Two-Time Kodak All-American (1985 and 1986)
1986 Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
1986 Wade Trophy and Honda Broderick Award recipient
1986 NCAA Champions, MVP and Team Captain
National Teams
1988 U.S. Olympics (Gold Medal)
1984 U.S. Olympics (alternate)
1987 Pan American Games (Gold Medal)
1987 Goodwill Games (Gold Medal)
1986 World Championships (Gold Medal)
1985 World University Games (Silver Medal)
1982 and 1983 National Sports Festival (Gold Medal)
2015-16
In Ethridge's second season at Northern Colorado, she helped guide the Bears to a 13-16 season. UNC started the season off well with a 5-2 record entering a tough December schedule that featured a pair of NCAA Tournament teams. Throughout the season, Northern Colorado's defense was a key for the team, holding opponents to a Big Sky best 62.0 points per game. In conference play UNC would finish in the eighth place with a 8-10 Big Sky record. The Bears would fall to Idaho State in the first round of the conference tournament.
Ethridge helped the team become one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the nation averaging 8.1 threes a game, ranking 16th nationally and third overall in the Big Sky. Her team once again took good care of the ball turnning it over the second least in the Big Sky at a rate of 13.5. Another stregth that Ethridge has bulit in the UNC program is its free throw shooting. The team finished the season hitting 76.7 percent of its free throws to rank first in the Big Sky and 11th overall in the NCAA. The team once agian earned its second straight Top 10 percential spot for team APR.
During the season, Ethridge was also named as an assistant coach for USA Basketball's U18 team over the summer.
2014-15
Ethridge earned her first career victory on November 14 at SMU by the score of 57-44. The Bears would start the season 4-0, their best start since 2002-03. After a slow start in Big Sky play Northern Colorado would collect eight straight wins and finish in third place. The streak would expand all the way out to 10 games. During the win streak UNC snapped Montana's 23 game conference home game win streak that had extended over two years time.,
In the Big Sky Conference Tournament UNC defeated North Dakota (72-64) and Sacramento State (81-79 ot) to make the championship game against host Montana. The Bears would end up falling to the Griz 60-49. Northern Colorado's season was not over after the Big Sky Tournament though, as they received an invitation to the Women's National Invitational Tournament (WNIT).,
For the first round of the WNIT, UNC faced in-state rival Colorado State in Fort Collins. The Bears defeated the Rams on their home court 53-48. UNC then hosted South Dakota in the second round winning a thrilling 59-58 game in front of a jam packed Bank of Colorado Arena to reach the third round of the tournament. Advancing to the third round of the WNIT is the furthest any team in Northern Colorado women's basketball Division I history. The Bears would end their season at historic Pauley Pavilion falling to UCLA 74-60.,
The 22 wins were not the only record Ethridge's first team broke. The team also set a record for points scored (2,307), 3-point field goals made (247) and assists (550) as a DI program. Individually Stephanie Lee, D'shara Strange, and Kyleigh Hiser set school season records. Lee set the record for points (598) and field goals made (248), Strange rebounds (314) and steals (104) and Hiser broke the 3-point field goals made record with 74. Lee and teammate Lindsay Mallon also broke school DI records in blocked shots (75) and assists (151), respectively.,
Ethridge helped lead two players to first team All-Big Sky honors in D'shara Strange and Stephanie Lee. Strange was named Co-MVP with Montana's Kelly Rubel. UNC was the only school to place two players on the first team. Strange and Lee were also on the Big Sky All-Tournament team. She also helped guide the team off the court to earn the program's WBCA Academic honor along with being recgonized by the NCAA for having one of the top APR raitings in the nation.
Over the summer between her first and second year, Ethridge was a court coach for the Junior National Trials.
Before Northern Colorado
Ethridge took the helm of Northern Colorado Women's Basketball after accruing a well-known reputation as one of the best teachers in the game. Her history of success stems far beyond her coaching career, earning a gold medal with the United States at the 1988 Olympics, winning an NCAA National Championship as a player and being inducted to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.
Ethridge spent the past 18 seasons as associate head coach at Kansas State, she was apart of a staff that took a team to nine NCAA postseason tournaments in 12 years, four WNIT postseason tournaments (including winning the 2006 WNIT Championship), and twice winning the Big 12 Championship title. The Wildcats advanced to six Sweet Sixteen appearances while totaling a record of 350-226 over that span.
Kansas State,became a force to be reckoned with in the Big 12 during Ethridge's tenure as an assistant, finishing with regular-season titles twice (2003-04 and 2007-08),and winning the postseason conference tournament twice (2003-04 and 2007-08).
In addition to her service with the Wildcats, Ethridge also served a four-year term on the USA Basketball Women's Player Selection Committee, which is responsible for the selection of numerous teams, including the World University Games, Pan American Games and Jones Cup teams. In the summer of 1999, she was invited to lead a point guard camp in Colorado Springs, Colo., for current, past and prospective USA Basketball talent.
Prior to her service at Kansas State, Ethridge spent five seasons with Vanderbilt as an assistant coach from 1991-96. The Commodores won the SEC postseason tournament twice en route to advancing to the Sweet Sixteen all five,seasons, including one Final Four trip in 1992-93. Ethridge played a major role in recruiting five high school Kodak All-Americans and 13 Gatorade State Players of the Year.
In her first year as an assistant coach, Ethridge joined the Northern Illinois program that advanced to the WNIT Postseason Tournament.
Ethridge began her,recognized success,with a prestigious playing,career at the University of Texas, including leading the Longhorns to and winning the 1986 national title game, where she was awarded the Most Valuable Player. She served as a team captain for the Longhorns while putting together the first perfect season in NCAA Division I history, finishing the season 34-0. Ethridge and Texas advanced to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen every season while moving on to the Elite Eight twice.
A two-time Kodak All-American, Ethridge was honored with the Wade Trophy and the Honda Broderick Cup, awarded to the top female student-athlete in the country each year. The final jewel in her awards crown was the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Player of the Year Award, presented annually to the nation's top senior collegian under 5-foot-6 in height.
Ethridge continued her playing career after Texas while playing on the international level. She was a member of the U.S. gold medal-winning Olympic team at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea. Ethridge also won gold medals for Team USA at the 1986 Goodwill Games, 1986 World Championships and the 1987 Pan American Games.
As a prep star at Monterey High School in Lubbock, Ethridge was named the Player of the Year in the state of Texas.
Coaching Experience
Northern Colorado, Head Coach, 2014-present
Kansas State, Associate Head Coach, 1996-2014,
Vanderbilt, Assistant Coach, 1991-96
Northern Illinois, Assistant Coach, 1990-91
Northern Illinois, Graduate Assistant, 1989-90
Texas, Student Coach, 1987-88
Achievements
2002 Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee
2000 Texas Women's Athletics Hall of Honor Inductee
2000 Texas Women's Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee
Southwest Conference All-Decade Team
Two-Time Kodak All-American (1985 and 1986)
1986 Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
1986 Wade Trophy and Honda Broderick Award recipient
1986 NCAA Champions, MVP and Team Captain
National Teams
1988 U.S. Olympics (Gold Medal)
1984 U.S. Olympics (alternate)
1987 Pan American Games (Gold Medal)
1987 Goodwill Games (Gold Medal)
1986 World Championships (Gold Medal)
1985 World University Games (Silver Medal)
1982 and 1983 National Sports Festival (Gold Medal)
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