Blue Pony legend lands NAU coaching job

A former Havre Blue Pony is now an NCAA Division I basketball coach. And Montanan’s who remember Loree Payne will even get to see her coach a couple of times per year in the Big Sky Conference.

Last Friday, Payne was introduced as the new women’s basketball coach at Northern Arizona University. Payne had previously been the head coach at NCAA Division III Puget Sound for the last seven seasons.

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be the next women's basketball coach at Northern Arizona University," Payne said in her introductory press release last week. "Thank you to President Dr. Rita Cheng, Dr. Lisa Campos, Robyn Sharp, the Board of Regents and all of the members of the search committee for their efforts in this process. I also want to show my gratitude to all of those at the University of Puget Sound and my former players for an amazing experience that has prepared me to journey from a Logger to a Lumberjack."

Payne brings a decorated basketball resume with her to Northern Arizona University's Mountain Campus. Over the past seven seasons, Payne had Puget Sound squarely in the conversation of the nation's elite Division III programs, compiling a 130-58 (.691) overall record and a 78-34 (.696) record within the Northwest Conference. Over the last three years, Payne's squads won at over an 80 percent clip (69-16) while advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament twice in 2015 and 2017 and reaching the NWC championship game each season. She was named the Northwest Conference Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season following the recently completed 2016-17 campaign and was a 2017 WBCA NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year finalist. Payne guided her team to a 26-3 overall record and an unblemished 16-0 mark within the conference, which clinched the program's first-ever outright regular season NWC championship. The 26 wins were a single season school record and her team was ranked as high as No. 6 nationally this past season.

Payne’s career also includes a standout playing career at the University of Washington coaching credentials, Payne was a standout player at Washington where she was a two-time All-Pac-10 First Team selection, District VIII Kodak All-American and Verizon Academic All-District VIII honoree.

Of course, Payne was also an incredible player for the Havre Blue Ponies, where she is still the school’s all-time leading scorer and is now a member of the MHSA Hall of Fame. Now, she’ll be close to her Montana roots again, but this time, coaching against the likes of the University of Montana Lady Griz and Montana State Bobcats.

"As a Montana native, I grew up around the Big Sky Conference and appreciate its unique character and rich history," Payne said. "I am so excited to lead NAU women's basketball to the top of 'the Sky' and beyond. My family and I look forward to joining the NAU family and being part of the Flagstaff community."