Silver City, N.M - Western New Mexico Athletics and Women's Basketball Head Coach Josh Pace is pleased to announce and welcome the Women's Basketball coaching staff, assistant Richie Willis. With experience playing at the collegiate level and coaching at several different levels, Willis will enrich Silver City with all his expertise.
"Coach Willis brings a plethora of experience and basketball success to our program," said Pace. "He was the head coach of a very successful high school program before joining a college program that he helped make the Division II NCAA Tournament during the 2021-22 college basketball season."
"I am extremely blessed, and grateful to have been given this opportunity to work alongside Coach Pace and his staff," said Willis. "Hard work and developing not only great players, but great individuals spoke to the culture he has built during his tenure as the Head Women's Basketball coach."
Willis comes to WNMU after one year at DII Art of the Academy in San Francisco, CA. He helped guide the Urban Knights to a program's best season in the last six years, returning to the NCAA Tournament after finishing third in the Pacific West Conference regular season standings and reaching the PacWest Championship Tournament title game.
"He is also a diligent recruiter and will be a huge part of bringing in student-athletes who fit what we want to do here at WNMU," said Pace. "We are very fortunate and happy to have him here."
Alongside his work, Willis served as the varsity girls basketball head coach at Cactus Shadows High School from 2012 to 2021. During his tenure, he compiled a 163-88 overall record, with the Falcons going undefeated in league play on four occasions.
Willis was also the director and head coach of the 16U Division of the 602 Lady Nation Basketball Club since 2016. Willis was responsible for the running program including: practices, development, community service projects, and administrative duties. Under his leadership, Lady Nation went 12-5 in the All-Star Girls Report circuit competition in the 2020 summer and had nine players pursue collegiate basketball careers, including recent WNMU signee Brooke Rodgers (Phoenix, Arizona /Cactus Shadows High School ).
Before Willis started his career in coaching, he was a four-year starter and three-time Frontier All-First Team basketball player who led the team in assists and steals in three of four seasons at Montana State University-Northern. Willis earned his bachelor's degree in Business Technology and an associate degree in Physical Education/Secondary Education from MSUN in 1990.
"I am looking forward to building strong relationships and coaching these ladies" concluded Willis.
In Willis's free time, he enjoys watching movies,m listening to music and playing golf. Willis is married to Jennifer Willis, and has three kids; Isaiah who is 13, Maya who is 11, and Elijah who is 9.
This announcement is presented by First American Bank. First American Bank is a proud supporter of WNMU Athletics!
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Western New Mexico University is a member of the NCAA Division II, and the Lone Star Conference (LSC). For additional information regarding Mustang Athletics, visit www.wnmumustangs.com; visit wnmu.edu for more information about Western New Mexico University. Follow the Mustangs on social media: @WNMUathletics (Twitter & Instagram).
