Arizona Basketball: Why Adia Barnes should be Coach of the Year

Arizona Women’s Basketball head coach Adia Barnes is having a record-setting year and is making a strong case for why she should be the Coach of the Year in women’s basketball.

In just four years as head coach for the Arizona Women’s Basketball program, Adia Barnes has taken this program to the next level. From winning only 14 games her first season to already 21 with still four games to be played in the regular season, she has transformed this team into a contender, in the Pac-12 and nationally as well. For her accomplishments this season she was just named to the Naismith Trophy Coach of the Year watchlist.

It’s not easy in women’s basketball to do what she has done in just a short amount of time. For that alone she deserves to be in contention for COY. To go from not making the post-season at all in year one, to selling out McKale Center and winning the WNIT year three to now having a chance to host the 1st and 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament, that’s incredible.

Barnes is a true players coach. Having been one of the greatest to have played for the Wildcat, she knows what it takes to win games and how important basketball is to the city of Tucson. Having to compete against the men’s program is no easy task, but she has found a way to do so these last couple of seasons.

Arizona Wildcats Basketball

A key part of building a successful program is recruiting four and five-star athletes. What her team did last season and what they are doing now has helped tremendously when it comes to landing top athletes. An example of that is five-star multi-sport Lauren Ware, who is currently ranked No.22 in the nation, who will be joining the Wildcats next season.

Not only does Barnes get it done on the sidelines, but it’s personality off the court that makes her so special. Whether it’s her ability to get fans to show up to the games on social media, her podcast, Made for It: The Adia Barnes Podcast,  the Adia Barnes Radio Show or even the original ideas she has come up such as “bang that drum”, Barnes has been putting in work and it has worked as the average attendance for women’s basketball has increased significantly over prior seasons.

More than anything, Barnes’s passion for the game basketball and the city of Tucson has made women’s basketball a must-see. And why not! They are now currently ranked No.11 in the nation, highest ranking since 1997-98 and have a legit chance to get into the top 10. After sweeping the Washington schools at home, their overall record is 21-4, 10-4 in the Pac-12, which puts them in 4th place. In a conference that is stacked with the best teams in the nations, Barnes has her team right there towards the top.

Her team’s results this season, and the overall impact she has had on this program is why she deserves to be the women’s Coach of the Year. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have someone with the skillset of Aari McDonald, who is one of the best players in women’s basketball and was recently named to the Wade Trophy Watch List.

Early this season, Barnes was mic’d up during practice. Check it out!

At Zona Zealots, we would like to congratulate Adia Barnes on what she has done so far and know she isn’t done yet. The future of women’s basketball in Tucson is looking bright! As always, Bear Down and Bang that Drum!