June Daugherty, former WSU and UW Huskies women’s basketball coach, dies at 64

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — June Daugherty, the former Washington and Washington State women’s basketball coach who led the Huskies to seven NCAA Tournaments, has died. She was 64.

Washington State said Daugherty died Monday at her Boise, Idaho, home.

A basketball fixture in the Northwest for nearly three decades, Daugherty was head coach at Boise State (1989-96), Washington (1996-2007) and Washington State (2007-18). She had a 443-441 record and went to the NCAA Tournament eight times.

In Daugherty’s 11 years at Washington State, the Cougars went 130-217 overall and 56-141 in league play. Daugherty ended a run of 17 straight losing seasons by going 17-17 in 2013-14 and had her first winning season one year later, going 17-15.

We’re saddened to learn about the passing of June Daugherty. We send our deepest condolences to her family and friends.https://t.co/beNaTOMkN0 pic.twitter.com/zHE3l8yRn9

— Washington State Athletics (@WSUCougars) August 5, 2021

The Cougars went to the postseason three times under Daugherty, advancing as far as the semifinal round of the WNIT in 2016-17. But the Cougars did not reach the NCAA Tournament under Daugherty.

At Washington, she compiled a record of 191-139 in 11 seasons and went 113-85 in league play, earning nine postseason berths. That included seven trips to the NCAA Tournament, with one Elite Eight appearance in 2000-01.

The Husky community is heartbroken to hear about the passing of June Daugherty. At this time, our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Mike, Doc, Bre and her family and friends.

Statement and release:https://t.co/8bQL3PPpyD#GoHuskies #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/kNvTwO9q95

— Washington Women’s Basketball (@UW_WBB) August 5, 2021

Daugherty earned her first head coaching job in 1989 at Boise State, leading the Broncos to five winning seasons, an overall record of 122-75 and one appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

The Columbus, Ohio, native was an assistant coach at Kent State (1983-85) and Stanford (1985-89) after her playing career at Ohio State ended in 1978.

Hall of Fame Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said she played against, coached with and coached against Daugherty.

“She was on my first staff at Stanford. June was a `people person’ as a coach, she was a great recruiter and an extremely positive person,” VanDerveeer said.

UCLA coach Cori Close recalled Daugherty as kind. “Just a really, really good human,” she said.

“I had the honor to be coached by June and coach alongside of her for almost 20 years, and while she was obviously an outstanding coach who won many games, more importantly she was fun, loving and a visionary leader and mentor who has made countless players and peers lives’ better,” said Arizona State coach Charli Turner Thorne.

Southern California coach Lindsay Gottlieb said Daugherty took time to mentor young coaches.

“I benefited from the time and effort she spent to lend me advice,” Gottlieb said. “Her influence on the Pac 12 Conference was vast, and she will be missed very, very much.”

The Pac-12 Conference said: “June Daugherty was a shining light in the Pac-12. She will be deeply missed.”

Daugherty is survived by her husband, Mike, who was her associate head coach at all three programs she ran, plus their two children and her parents.