Dulaney new Cheney girls basketball coach

Sometimes fate takes you where it wants you to go. At least that was the case for new Cheney girls basketball coaching hire Regan Dulaney.

“I didn’t anticipate coaching. I never thought about it,” the three-year Eastern Washington University assistant said.

She was applying for graduate school and thinking about a career in law when the opportunity came to coach a freshman high school team in her native Tucson, Ariz.

After going 15-1 in her year there, she became a graduate assistant while working for her master’s degree at Adams State in Colorado. Upon graduation in 2001 she randomly applied for assistant coaching jobs.

“I was lucky enough to land here when (EWU head coach) Wendy (Schuller) picked me out of the bunch,” Dulaney, 27, said.

The urge to become a head coach and an opening at Cheney led to her hiring.

“She’s very organized, knows her stuff, knows what has to be done and how to compete,” said Cheney activities vice principal Jim Missel. “It’s going to be exciting.”

Dulaney played four years at the University of Wyoming, the last two years as a starter.

“I had a chance to really learn about the thinking part of the game,” she said. “And being on both ends of the spectrum (as bench-sitter and starter) aided me in being able to relate with players.”

She said that defense makes the offense and will teach pressure man-to-man and a transition offensive style of play.

“I really enjoyed the college game,” she said. “But I love to teach the game, wanted to be a head coach.”