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Shanele Stires enters her second season as an assistant women's basketball coach at the University of San Francisco for head coach Tanya Haave. Stires brings an impressive blend of collegiate coaching experience and professional experience. Stires competed in the WNBA and overseas during an eight year career following her graduation from Kansas State. Stires spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Ohio University after retiring from professional basketball and playing for five professional teams in four different countries, including Greece, Portugal, Sweden and the United States. The Salina, Kansas native looks forward to the opportunity to coach on the West Coast. "The opportunity to work on a staff with a wealth of experience is too good to be true," Stires said. "Coach Haave is building something special at San Francisco and I am truly thrilled and excited to be on board." Stires serves as coach for the Dons' forwards and post players. Along with assisting in recruiting and scouting, Stires also is charge of the team's community service hours. COACHING BEGINNINGS During her tenure in Athens, Stires worked in all facets of the program with an on-court emphasis on post player development. Last season, Stires worked with a pair of All-MAC performers and tutored an All-MAC Freshman team selection. Stires got her first taste of college coaching at Augsburg College in Minneapolis working on game specific skills. LOTS OF FREQUENT FLIER MILES After spending two seasons playing professionally overseas, Stires wrapped up her professional career playing for the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx from 2000-03, playing both guard and forward for three seasons. Prior to returning stateside, Stires played in Portugal for Clube Amigos de Basket where she averaged more than 20 points per game. Stires spent a pair of seasons in Sweden (1999-2000) competing on the Visby Ladies club and earned all-star honors after averaging 27.2 points per game in her first season in Scandinavia. An inaugural member of the Columbus Quest of the American Basketball League (ABL), Stires played guard and forward and won a pair of championship rings from 1996-98. Stires joined the Quest after one season in Greece competing for A.O. Pagrati where she led the team in scoring and rebounding. A STANDOUT WILDCAT A three-year letter-winner at Kansas State, Stires litters the Wildcats record books, departing Manhattan ranked fifth in scoring (1,334) and steals (170) and sixth in rebounds (701). During her senior campaign, Stires captured Kodak All- American Honorable Mention and All-Big Eight First Team honors and was a runner-up for player of the year. Stires was a second team all-league selection during her first two seasons with the Wildcats. A versatile athlete, Stires originally went to Kansas State on a track scholarship. Stires is pursuing a Master's Degree in Coaching Education from Ohio University and earned a B.S. in Social Science from Kansas State in 1995. COACH HAAVE ON STIRES: "Shanele brings an outstanding mix of experience as a player and a coach. Her energy and enthusiasm will be contagious and our players will greatly benefit from her presence in our program." |
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