Women's Basketball

Follow her on Twitter! @CoachJRPayne

JR Payne is in her second season as head coach at Santa Clara in 2015-16.

Payne led the Broncos to 10 wins and five WCC victories while advancing to the second round of the WCC Tournament in her first season in 2014-15. Santa Clara pulled an upset of LSU, the first win for Santa Clara against an SEC team since a 58-53 win on Dec. 14, 1996 vs. Mississippi at the Wahine Invitational in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Perviously Payne had been the head coach at Southern Utah for five seasons, leading the team to a school-record 23 wins in 2013-14 and advancing to the national postseason for the first time in school history. Prior to that, Payne was an assistant coach on the Mission campus in 2008-09.  An All-WCC point guard who graduated from Saint Mary’s in 1999, Payne has also served as an assistant coach at Boise State and Gonzaga.

During her 14-year career as a women’s college basketball coach, she has been a part of four conference championships and five post-season appearances as well as an undefeated league season.  She has helped coach two All-Americans, three conference players of the year, 32 all-conference players and 31 all-academic honorees.

Payne led the Thunderbirds to the school’s first-ever Big Sky Championship in 2014 season, winning a share of the regular season title.  They defeated Colorado State, 71-56, in the first round of the WNIT, before falling at host-Colorado, 79-68, in the second round.  Setting four school records including points scored (2,454), field goals made (830), free throws made (629) and free throws attempted (839), their scoring average (74.1) and field goal attempts (1,925) were the second-best marks ever at SSU.

Payne coached Hailey Mandelko, Lori Parkinson, Andrea Jones and Carli Moreland to a number of accolades this season as well.  Mandelko was honored on the All-Big Sky First Team after ranking among the league’s leaders during conference play by averaging 15.8 ppg. Mandelko was also named to the Big Sky All-Tournament Team.

Parkinson led Southern Utah on the glass with 7.8 rpg and she was also selected as a member of the All-Conference Second Team as well as being Big Sky Player of the Week.  Jones was recognized as Big Sky Sixth Player of the Year. Moreland became just the 10th student-athlete in SUU women’s basketball history to reach 1,000 career points in the Thunderbirds final home game against Northern Colorado.

The 2010-11 team posted a record of 16-14, the best mark in seven years, in Payne’s third year. Under Payne’s guidance, forward Challis Pascucci produced one of best individual performances in SUU history, earning a spot on the All-Summit League First Team.  Pascucci finished the 2011 season as the Thunderbirds all-time leader in career rebounds (929) and fourth in scoring (1,328). 

Prior to coming to SUU, Payne served as the top assistant at Santa Clara University under then-first-year head coach Jennifer Mountain for the 2008-09 season. Payne also served as an assistant coach at Boise State University and Gonzaga University. During her time in Boise, the Broncos enjoyed a wealth of success, winning conference titles two of the three years and advancing to the NCAA postseason. BSU posted back-to-back 24-8 seasons, including a perfect 14-0 mark at home during the 2007-08 season. 

Payne began her coaching career at Gonzaga University in 2000, serving as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator under head coach Kelly Graves. Payne was an integral part of the Bulldogs turnaround as the team posted a five-win season during the staff’s first year then went to a 28-win season during the 2004-05 season, including an undefeated run in the West Coast Conference. Payne was a part of the process that brought Gonzaga’s first All-American to campus in guard Shannon Mathews.

As a player, Payne was a four-year letter winner at St. Mary’s College (Calif.), helping the Gaels earn their first trip to the NCAA Tournament in school-history during the 1998-99 season. The former point guard was an All-West Coast Conference first team selection and was also named to the West Coast Conference All-Tournament First Team twice.

Payne is a native of North Vancouver, British Columbia and went to Windsor Secondary School. 

Coaching Experience

Santa Clara University: Head Coach: 2014- (2nd season)

Southern Utah University: Head Coach 2009-14 (5 seasons, 1 WNIT)

Santa Clara University: Assistant Coach: 2008-09 (1 season)

Boise State University: Assistant Coach: 2005-08 (3 seasons – 1 NCAA, 1 WNIT)

Gonzaga University: Assistant Coach: 2000-2005 (5 seasons – 1 NCAA, 1 WNIT)

Playing Experience

Saint Mary’s: Point Guard for the Gaels; Led SMC to the NCAA tournament in 1999

Graduated in 1999 with a degree in French

All-WCC first team once and WCC All-Tournament team twice

What Others Are Saying About JR Payne

“JR Payne is one of the best young coaches on the West Coast.   She’s a great teacher of the game and an exceptional recruiter.  Her success at building programs can only be matched by her success at building young women.  She will definitely be an asset to Santa Clara University and the community of coaches here in the West Coast Conference.”

-Kelly Graves, Gonzaga University, Head Women’s Basketball Coach

“Coach JR and her coaching staff are the most dedicated and devoted coaches that I have ever played for. They have passion for the game, and the drive to be better. JR is an outstanding balance of being competitive and caring. She will positively push you to your limits to be successful, as a team and individually. Coach JR not only developed me as player but as a person. Now that I am a part of the professional world, I have been able to implement the drive for success, and the strong work ethic. JR has made such an impact on my life and I will always look up to her .The work ethic and compassion that she will bring to SCU will be noticed. I'm looking forward to see the success that JR and her coaching staff will bring.”

- Challis Pascucci, former player at Southern Utah University

"Santa Clara made an absolutely terrific hire. JR Payne is as talented a coach as there is. Success absolutely follows her wherever she goes.  At Gonzaga, at Boise State, at Southern Utah and soon at Santa Clara.  Her student-athletes will love playing for her."

- Gordy Presnell, Boise State University, Head Women’s Basketball Coach

“I'm elated for JR!  She has been a role model for me since the day I met her.  She has been a huge part of who I am today and I can never re-pay her for that. But as far as JR as a person and a coach, JR cares not only about the success of the team as a whole but for the players first and foremost. She strives to better the individual for the purpose of team success but individual development as well.”

-Tasha Harris, former Boise State player, 2008 WAC Scoring Champion

"JR Payne is an excellent person and outstanding coach, with the ability to develop a program with a exciting style of play.  Santa Clara University is getting a person that will make a positive impact on the community and players."

- Travis Brewster, University of North Dakota, Head Women's Basketball Coach