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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Clinesmith now assistant at Central

Stacy Clinesmith at 2007 Hoopfest. (Ingrid Lindemann / File/The Spokesman-Review)
Stacy Clinesmith at 2007 Hoopfest. (Ingrid Lindemann / File/The Spokesman-Review)

Former Mead standout Stacy Clinesmith has been hired as an assistant with the Central Washington women's basketball program. The information is below, but it doesn't say what the former pro did in the last year ... which I believe was coaching high school in the northeast. Hopefully a reader can help us out. ... What really hurts is Clinesmith is now 32 - and I didn't think I was that old since it was only yesterday she led the Panthers to a state title.

Women's practice starts over the weekend, but all I know so far is Gonzaga is having a function at 5 p.m. Saturday at McCarthey.

Central Washington University head coach Jeff Whitney has announced the addition of Stacy Clinesmith as assistant coach.
Clinesmith, 32, replaces Rachael Ziemann as the Wildcats' full-time assistant coach. She starred in basketball at Mead High School in Spokane before embarking on a standout collegiate career at UC Santa Barbara (1996-2000) and then a professional career in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the National Women's Basketball League (NWBL) and internationally in Puerto Rico. Clinesmith is a 2000 graduate of UCSB with a degree in sociology.

"The great thing about Stacy is that she has Northwest connections, which is huge for recruiting purposes," Whitney said. "She has great experience playing at a quality Division I program, and then for several seasons in the WNBA. Her credentials as a basketball player speak for themselves, but she also has great experience as from her time as an assistant at Oregon State."

Clinesmith finished her college career ranked second in UCSB history with 647 assists and is sixth on the Gauchos' all-time scoring list with 1,565 career points. She helped UCSB to a 107-20 record and four NCAA Division I tournament appearances during her playing career.

Following the conclusion of her playing career, Clinesmith spent one season (2008-09) as the Director of Basketball Operations at Oregon State University.


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