CEDAR CITY, Utah - Southern Utah University women's basketball head coach Tracy Sanders has announced Allyson Fasnacht as the team's new associate head coach ahead of the 2023-24 season.
"I am so thrilled to have someone of Allyson's caliber join our women's basketball program," Sanders said. "She brings a wealth of experience in all aspects of coaching, recruiting, and skill development. Allyson is the definition of servant leadership, she has a tremendous ability to lead and enrich the life of every student-athlete she works with. Allyson has played and coached at a high level and understands what it takes to build and sustain success. I believe she will have an immediate positive influence on our program."
Fasnacht spent the past 12 years at Saint Mary's, serving her first eight years as an assistant coach before getting promoted to associate head coach in 2019. During this time, Sanders and Fasnacht served on the coaching staff together before Sanders was hired as the head coach of the Thunderbirds in 2018. Fasnacht was named Saint Mary's interim head coach for the 2022-23 season.
Fasnacht made an immediate impact with the Gaels, winning 20 or more games and reaching the postseason in each of her first eight seasons. Overall, SMC went 206-158 during Fasnacht's time with the program.
Under Fasnacht's direction, seven players earned All-WCC Freshman Team honors and 18 earned All-WCC teams.
Fasnacht served as a graduate assistant coach for the Nevada women's basketball team from 2009-2011. Before attending Nevada as a graduate student, Fasnacht earned a position as an assistant coach at Furman University.
Before getting involved with coaching, Fasnacht played college basketball for Liberty University from 2004-2008. Fasnacht helped lead the Flames to three Big South Tournament Championships and earned three trips to the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2005.
Fasnacht earned a bachelor's degree in 2007 in sports management from Liberty University and later graduated with a master's degree in educational leadership from Nevada.
Professional Players Coached
Several players who were coached by Fasnacht have gone on to play basketball professionally. Below is a list of players and the teams they played for:
Lauren Nicholson (Opals, WNBL)
Devon Brookshire (played in Ireland, Sweden, Portugal, Australia, Latvia, Norway Denmark)
Madeline Holland (Netherlands)
Megan McKay (Emerging Opals, WNBL)
Sam Simons (Emerging Opals, WNBL)
Hannah Kaser (WNBL)
Kate Gaze (WNBL)
Jasmine Forcadilla (NBL1)
Carly Turner (NBL1)
Stella Beck (NZ Tall Ferns, WNBL, Tauihi Aotearoa League)
Jade Kirisome (Tauihi Aotearoa League)
Amy West (Tauihi Aotearoa League)
Praise for Coach Fasnacht
"Allyson Fasnacht is more than a great assistant coach. She was my confidant, she was my eyes and ears, but most of all she was part of my family. Allyson is a smart, forward-thinking person who has a love, care, serve lifestyle." - Paul Thomas, Former Head Coach at Saint Mary's College
"Allyson is one of the brightest and most competent assistants I have ever had. She has studied the game at all levels and excels in player development and recruiting. Her integrity and character make me happy she's in the profession of women's basketball. She is definitely one of the up-and-coming coaches of this era." - Jane Albright, Former Head Coach at Nevada
"Coach Allyson is a coach who, long after coaching me, continues to reach out, continues to support me from the other side of the world, and someone who I know is always in my corner. She is the type of coach that players want to play for, but more importantly, she is one of the greatest humans you could ever come across." - Kate Gaze, former player and current WNBL champion
Follow Us
For all the latest on Southern Utah women's basketball, follow @SUUWBasketball on Twitter and Instagram and like the Southern Utah Women's Basketball Facebook page.
