San José, Calif. – Following one of the greatest seasons in program history, San José State University Director of Athletics Marie Tuite announced on Monday that women's basketball head coach Jamie Craighead has agreed to a new three-year contract that will run through the 2022-23 season.
"There is an exciting buzz surrounding our women's basketball program as Coach Craighead continues to build a vibrant and exhilarating team," says Tuite. "Her core values of student-athlete well-being, academic achievement and competitiveness in the Mountain West conference aligns with our department's culture. I tremendously value her vision of empowering and inspiring women through sport. This contract affirms my strong belief that under Coach Craighead's leadership, new heights await this team. It's a banner day for Spartan Athletics and I'm thrilled to announce this extension."
Craighead led the Spartans to 19 victories on the 2019-20 season, the program's highest-win total in 40 years. The team became just the third in program history to make the semifinals of a conference tournament and posted the nation's largest single-season win turnaround along the way.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to coach our student-athletes here at San José State," Craighead says. "This extension is for my players. They have done an unbelievable job of staying the course and continuing to grow our basketball program. I am thankful for the continued commitment from Marie Tuite and Dr. Mary Papazian in supporting and approving of what we are doing in our program by extending me as the leader of San José State women's basketball. As we move forward, our goals remain the same; developing outstanding young women, both in the classroom and in the community, while striving to compete on the court at the highest level in the Mountain West."
SJSU finished the 2019-20 season in a tie for third place in the Mountain West standings, the program's top finish since making the move to the Mountain West conference. In addition, the team's historic campaign marked the best-ever finish for a team selected last in the Mountain West preseason women's basketball poll.
Done Deal ??
— San José State Women's Basketball (@SanJoseStateWBB) April 20, 2020
Fresh off one of the best years in program history, head coach @SJSU_CoachJC has signed a new contract that extends through the 2022-23 season.
?? - https://t.co/su4lCsVqVK pic.twitter.com/aMoExBGCp9
Under Craighead's guidance, San José State placed two players (Ayzhiana Basallo - First Team; Tyra Whitehead - Honorable Mention) on All-Conference Teams last season. Basallo was named the Mountain West Newcomer of the Year while also earning national recognition, finishing the season as a semifinalist for the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year award.
Basallo ended the year as the conference's scoring champion while also leading the league in free throw percentage. Whitehead was also all over the top of the Mountain West statistical categories, finishing the season ranked second in double-doubles, rebounds and steals.
The program has soared to new heights both on and off the floor under the Elma, Wash. native. In the classroom, the Spartans have earned 32 Academic All-Mountain West awards since Craighead arrived in Silicon Valley in 2013.
Entering her eighth season at the helm of SJSU, Craighead is tied for the third-longest tenured head coach in the Mountain West.
San José State returns a loaded squad with 11 players back next season, including starters Raziya Potter, Basallo and Whitehead. In addition, the Spartans will welcome in an exciting recruiting class with the additions of freshmen Sophia Jones and Alani Fluker and transfers Autam Mendez and Meghan Oberg.