Coaches: K-State Women's Hoops

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Deb Patterson

Winningest Coach in School History; 2-Time Big 12 Coach of the Year

Patterson's Trophy Case
• 2008 and 2002 Big 12 Coach of the Year
• 2008 and 2004 Big 12 Conference Champions
• 2008, 2003 and 2002 WBCA District V Coach of the Year
• 2008, 2003 and 2002 WBCA National Coach of the Year Finalist
• 2008 Associated Press National Coach of the Year Finalist
• 2005, 2003 and 2002 Naismith National Coach of the Year Finalist
• 2008 Kansas City Star Big 12 Coach of the Year
• 2008 Waco Tribune Big 12 Coach of the Year
• 2008 and 2002 Dallas Morning News Big 12 Coach of the Year
• 2002 Austin American-Statesman Big 12 Coach of the Year
• 2002 San Antonio Express News Big 12 Coach of the Year
• 2001-02 ESPN the Magazine Coach of the Year
• 2005-06 WNIT Champions
• 2006-07 WNIT Final Four
• 2002-03 Preseason WNIT Champions
• USA Basketball 2000 Junior World Championship Qualifying Team (Gold Medal)
• USA Basketball 1998 FIBA World Championships (Gold Medal)
• USA Basketball 1997 World University Games (Gold Medal)
• 2008 and 1997 KBCA Women’s College Basketball Coach of the Year

Deb Patterson, the all-time winningest coach in school history, enters her 14th season and will look to continue to mold Kansas State women's basketball into one of the most successful programs in the nation.

Over the past decade, Patterson has captured the imagination of women's basketball fans across the nation by catapulting the Wildcat program into the national spotlight as an annual top-seeded postseason tournament contender, a consistent top-25 nationally ranked program in both major polls and one of the top-25 national leaders in NCAA Division I women's basketball attendance.

Under Patterson's direction during the 2008-09 season, K-State tallied a 25-8 record and the 11th NCAA Tournament appearance in school history and the eighth straight postseason trip. The final mark of 25-8 included the best unbeaten start in school history, as the Wildcats opened the season 14-0. The Wildcats' also rose to the highest rankings since the 2003-04 season in both the Associated Press (No. 14, Jan. 26) and ESPN/USA Today Coaches' polls (No. 12, Jan. 26).

Kansas State earned a No. 5 seed in the Raleigh Regional and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the sixth consecutive NCAA appearance by defeating No. 12 Drexel.

During the 2008-09 season, Patterson surpassed the 250-win plateau with a 58-43 win over Indiana State on Dec. 20, 2008.

Patterson continued to mentor solid student-athletes, as she advised AP All-America honorable mention selection, Lowe's Senior All-American first team choice and CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America third team honoree, Shalee Lehning. Eight of Patterson's charges earned Academic All-Big 12 first team honors for the second straight season. This total led the Big 12 and set a school record for the second straight season.

The 2007-08 season was a testament to the determination and hard work Patterson instills in her team, as the Wildcats captured the second Big 12 regular season title in school history and the first outright crown in the program's history with a 13-3 league mark. With the title, the Wildcats became the first BCS school in the nation and the first Big 12 basketball program, male or female, to go from worst to first in the span of one season.

K-State earned its 10th NCAA Tournament appearance as the No. 5 seed in the New Orleans Regional. The Wildcats advanced to the second round of the tournament by defeating No. 12 Chattanooga. During the contest, K-State set an NCAA Tournament record by connecting on all 21 of its free throw attempts.

For her efforts during the 2007-08 season, Patterson was recognized by her fellow coaches and the media alike with numerous postseason awards including: the Russell Athletic/WBCA Region V Coach of the Year, Big 12 Coach of the Year, Kansas City Star Big 12 Coach of the Year, Dallas Morning News Big 12 Coach of the Year and the Waco Tribune Big 12 Coach of the Year. She was also a finalist for the WBCA National Coach of the Year honor and finished third in the voting for the Associated Press National Coach of the Year Award.

Kamie Ethridge

Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee; National Player of the Year; 2 Time All American

Recognized as one of the greatest women's basketball guards to ever play the game, Kamie Ethridge is in her 14th season as associate head coach of the Kansas State women's basketball program.

In this role, Ethridge shares the responsibility for all developmental, administrative and coaching aspects of the program.

Ethridge's reputation as one of the best players ever at the point guard position is matched professionally by her label as one of the best young teachers in the game. Anyone who has been in the gym with Ethridge recognizes her special ability to break the game down and develop individual player skills.

The culmination of her spectacular playing career and inspirational coaching received the ultimate recognition in 2002 with her enshrinement into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tenn.

Leading up to the honor, she was inducted into the University of Texas Women's Athletics Hall of Honor in 2000 and was one-of-eight players selected to the Southwest Conference Players of the Decade Team. On Jan. 17, 1997, her No. 33 jersey was retired at Monterey High School in her hometown of Lubbock, Texas.

Ethridge's coaching prowess has been apparent in the Wildcat perimeter game. Under Ethridge's tutelage, K-State's perimeter game has blossomed into one of the nation's best. In 2001-02, Kansas State led the country in three-point field goal percentage (41.1) and ranked among the top 10 in three-point field goals made (8th, 262).

K-State, Big 12 Conference and NCAA career three-point leader Laurie Koehn, then a freshman, led the nation in three-point field goals made (122), while former Wildcat Kristin Rethman was third in three-point field goal percentage (47.6). Ethridge's corps also set the school team season records for three-pointers (262), three-point attempts (637) and three-point percentage.

Since her arrival, the Wildcats have had three players, including Koehn, ranked among the best in the country in three-point shooting. During her senior campaign in 2004-05, Koehn broke the NCAA record for career three-pointers made with 392. She finished the season ranked third nationally in three-point field goals per game (3.1 avg).

In all, three out of the top 5 Big 12 all-time three-point specialists hail from K-State. Former all-time leading three-point shooter Kim Woodlee (1997-01) still ranks third all-time in the Big 12 Conference and second behind Koehn at K-State. During her career she ranked among the nation's top 40 in 2000, 15th in 1999 and second in the country among all freshmen in 1998. Rethman was 24th in 2001, among the nation's top 40 in 2000 and 30th as a rookie. Koehn was fifth in three-point field goals per game (3.2 avg) and eighth in three-point field goal percentage (43.5) in 2004.

With the help of Ethridge, K-State has made nine postseason appearances in 12 years, captured the 2006 Postseason WNIT Championship, to mark its first postseason championship title in school history, won a Preseason WNIT Championship in 2002-03, became the highest debuting team in the Associated Press Poll, received its highest (No. 2) and first-ever ranking in the USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches Poll and had record-breaking attendance marks. In 2003-04, Ethridge helped lead the Wildcats to their first Big 12 Conference title and highest-ever seed in the NCAA Tournament (No. 2). Last season, K-State made a school-record sixth consecutive appearance in the Postseason Tournament.

Ethridge has been instrumental in the Wildcats' success on the conference level. K-State reached the Big 12 Tournament semifinals in 2001-02 and the finals in 1997-98, marking the program's first trip to a conference tournament title game since 1990. The Wildcats advanced to their second conference tournament title tilt in 2004-05. Over the last six seasons, K-State has had success during the Big 12 regular season, finishing with an outright title in 2007-08 (13-3) finishing tied for first (14-2) in 2003-04, tied for second (14-2) in 2002-03, tied for third (12-4) in 2004-05, and third (11-5) in 2001-02.

Shalee Lehning

Current member of the WNBA's Atlanta Dream

Shalee Lehning is in her first season as an assistant coach on Deb Patterson's staff, following an All-American career with the Wildcats. Lehning, who completed and earned her undergraduate degree (electronic journalism) in December of 2009, is a member of the WNBA's Atlanta Dream and will continue to play in the WNBA while also assisting the Wildcats. She is the second assistant coach in the Patterson era to coach and also play in the WNBA at the same time.

"Shalee Lehning is a tremendous addition to our staff," said Patterson about her new assistant. "Like Andria Jones, before her, she is a KSU women's basketball program alum who epitomizes the excellence of character and achievement, the passion, intensity and loyalty that the Kansas State women's basketball program is known for. Shalee brings a great work ethic and tremendous people and leadership skills to our staff and program. Her passion for and thorough knowledge of our program philosophies and system, her teaching skills and her love of Kansas State University are all attributes that will make her an excellent recruiter and coach."

With Lehning's help, Atlanta secured a franchise record 18 wins this season after recording just four in its debut season in 2008. The 14-win improvement is the second-biggest turnaround in WNBA history. The Dream will enter the 2009 playoffs as the number two seed in the Eastern Conference and will begin action on Sept. 16 in Atlanta against number three seed, Detroit.

The Sublette, Kan., native led the Dream in assists per game at 3.8 (125 total assists) and ranked 10th in the league in the category and was the league leader among rookies. Her assists/40 minutes played average of 7.2 ranked second in the WNBA and first among rookies. Her assists/turnover ratio ranked eighth in the WNBA at 2.31.

Lehning also averaged 3.1 points and 2.4 rebounds in 21.1 minutes per game while playing in all 33 regular season games in her debut season.

"I am extremely excited for this unbelievable opportunity to coach at Kansas State University," said Lehning of her new assignment. "As a former player at K-State, I take great pride in this university and the women's basketball program. I have the utmost respect for Coach Patterson, her coaching staff and this program. I am honored to have the chance to help take our program to new heights."

Kelly Moylan

Ranks in Top 10 at K-State in numerous offensive categories

Kelly Moylan is in her fourth season as an assistant coach at Kansas State.

Moylan, a four-year letterwinner for the Wildcats from 1989-93, most recently served as head girls varsity basketball coach at nearby Junction City (Kan.) High School the last two years. She compiled a 30-15 career record with the Blue Jays and guided the team to a 17-5 mark this past season. Moylan garnered co-Coach of the Year honors leading Junction City to a tied for first finish in the Centennial League.

Moylan ranks 11th all-time in both career three-pointers made (108) and three-pointers attempted (281) at K-State. She also ranks sixth all-time in career three-point field goal percentage (38.4). During the 1991-92 season as a junior, Moylan finished third-best in the Big Eight Conference shooting 39.3 percent (53-135) from behind the arc.

Prior to her head coaching position at Junction City High School, Moylan served as head girls varsity basketball coach at Hiawatha (Kan.) High School from 1997-99. She was also the school's head volleyball coach and taught physical education.

Originally from Emmett, Kan., Moylan is a 1994 graduate of K-State with a bachelor's degree in physical education. She started her collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant women's basketball coach at Northern Iowa, where she completed her master's degree in physical education in 1996.

A local prep standout at St. Mary's (Kan.) High School, Moylan was named an honorable mention All-American by USA TODAY and a consensus all-state selection as a senior. She was also honored as the 1989 Kansas Sports Magazine Player of the Year and recorded 1,841 career points at St. Mary's.

Erin Sunde

Erin Sunde is in her fifth season serving as assistant director of operations for the Kansas State women's basketball program.

Sunde is responsible for team and staff travel, budget management, operational management for summer camps and community relations involving the women's basketball program.

Prior to her appointment at K-State, Sunde served as a student manager for the nationally-ranked University of Iowa women's basketball program from 2000-05. In her role as head manager, she assisted the coaching staff with everyday coaching responsibilities, prepared practices, games, travel arrangements and training tables, compiled video and organized and ran summer camps for the Hawkeyes.

Originally a native of Grimes, Iowa, Sunde graduated from the University of Iowa in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in sociology and psychology. Sunde is the oldest daughter of Dick and Jackie Sunde. Her sister, Erica (23), played soccer at Northwest Missouri State. She also has a younger sister, Katelyn (18).

Danielle Zanotti

Former Wildcat Danielle Zanotti was named to head coach Deb Patterson's staff in January and is serving in the capacity of director of basketball operations.

Zanotti, a three-time Academic All-Big 12 first team honoree, finished her career tied for third in school history in games played with 130. The native of Mustang, Okla., averaged 2.5 points and 2.3 rebounds per game during her four seasons with the Wildcats.

ZANOTTI'S TROPHY CASE
- Tied for third in school history for career games played with 130
- 2008-09 Academic All-Big 12 first team
- 2007-08 Academic All-Big 12 first team
- 2006-07 Academic All-Big 12 first team
- Eight-time Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll recipient

Marlies Gipson

Former K-State and All-Big 12 forward Marlies Gipson rejoined the Wildcats in January as she was named K-State's director of video operations for women's basketball.

Gipson, a two-time All-Big 12 second team selection, three-time Academic All-Big 12 first team recipient and 2008-09 Academic All-District VII second team honoree, finished her career as K-State's all-time leader for blocked shots with 257. Her blocked shots total ranks third in Big 12 history and her total of 14 games with five or more blocks set a school record. The product of McPherson, Kan., finished her career with 1,313 career points to rank 14th in school history and ranks fifth in school history for career rebounds with 811.

During her playing career, Gipson recorded 18 double-doubles to rank sixth in school history and played in 115 career games to rank seventh in school history.

Gipson capped her senior season with a career-high for points (442; 13.4 ppg), assists (76; 3.3 apg), blocks (86; 2.6 bpg), field goals made (197), field goals attempted (384) and field goal percentage (.513). Her blocked shots total from her senior campaign set a school record for a single season and becoming the first player in K-State history to block 80 or more shots in a season.