Covid in 2020 left a permanent imprint on our lives, especially in sports, which was forced to take a worldwide pause for a couple of months that year.
Courtney Paris remembers it vividly.
“I came home from Turkey,” she recalled about returning stateside from playing overseas pro ball. “My college coach at the University of Oklahoma said, ‘Hey we have a position open. Would you like to be a coach?’
“I was like, I am still playing basketball,” Paris pointed out. “So that happened fast, and I got into [coaching] fast, but I’ve enjoyed it ever since.”
As a result, Paris retired from active playing and began her post-playing career as a coach. Her distinguished hoopin’ career included being the only NCAA player, male or female, to post 700 points, 500 rebounds and 100 blocks in a single season during her four years at Oklahoma, including setting a record for most consecutive double-doubles (112 games) in a decade of playing.
A first-round WNBA draftee (2009, seventh overall), a WNBA champion (2018), and a two-time league rebounding champ (2014, 2015), she played for three clubs and five foreign teams.
After a year as a college assistant coach at Oklahoma and two pro assistant seasons at Dallas, Paris is now in her third season as a WNBA assistant coach, her first with the Chicago Sky.
She is a twin — sister Ashley also played basketball, and their dad is former NFL player William “Bubba” Paris. During an interview, the San Jose, Calif. native revealed her belief that her wrap-up years as a player would uniquely prepare her for coaching.
“I enjoyed helping the younger players, being a mentor, helping them on the court,” said Paris. “I enjoyed that role. I didn’t know that was going to translate into coaching.”
We asked her how much the game changed in her eyes, especially being a former big (6’4”). “I don’t know if it’s changed a lot,” she replied. “People are expecting these bigs to be able to stretch the floor and shoot it. You’re seeing a lot more versatility in the players that are coming out of college. Even the young players are being taught at a young age [to play outside the paint].
“The game is definitely expanding. There’s a place for the low block player, but it’s definitely expanding for sure,” said Paris.
Is one day becoming a head coach in the Black female’s future? “I think the opportunity is open for minority coaches,” Paris said. “I think if that’s something you want to do, there’s definitely space for it. I hope that happens.
“You see it more on the court, and I hope it happens in front office positions as well,” she said of the importance of diversity.
Jade Hill nominated for NCAA award
Former St. Thomas women’s basketball standout Jade Hill was recently announced as the Summit League’s nominee for the 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year award.
Hill, the Minneapolis South grad, is the first Tommie in the DI era to earn the conference’s nomination for the annual award. Since 1991 the NCAA Woman of the Year winner has recognized senior female student-athletes in all three divisions for excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership.
Hill graduated from UST this spring with an elementary education degree and a 3.83 GPA. She completed her student teaching requirement in mid-June.
The guard leaves St. Thomas as the school’s third-best scorer (1,558) and top assists record (474), the only Tommie player to score over 1,500 career points and tally 450+ assists. Hill averaged over 10 points in each of her four seasons.
The NCAA Woman of the Year nominees will go to a selection committee who will select the top 10 nominees in each division — 30 in all later this year. The three final winners will be announced in January 2026.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.