ATLANTA – Colorado bench boss JR Payne was one of 15 head coaches from across the country listed as potential candidates for the 2023 Werner Ladder Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year Award by the Atlanta Tipoff Club on Wednesday.
Four of the most recent six winners of this award are included in this year's candidates. Geno Auriemma (UConn), Lisa Bluder (Iowa), Dawn Staley (South Carolina), and Tara VanDerveer (Stanford) are all previous winners.
Payne has led the No. 21 Buffs to a 20-5 record this season, including an 11-3 conference mark.