Caitlyn Sears enters her second season as a member of the Thunderbird coaching staff following one of the most productive playing careers in the history of SUU basketball.
Sears finished her playing days as Southern Utah’s fifth all-time leading scorer with 1,216 total points. She also ranks third in games played (115) and ninth in steals (126). Sears was also named to the all-Summit League second team after averaging 15.3 points per game and shooting 44 percent from behind the arc during her senior season.
Sears spent her summers at SUU working at camps and clinics alongside Coach Payne and looks forward to beginning her coaching career with her mentor.
“I have a tremendous amount of respect for this coaching staff and consider it a great opportunity to work with Coach Payne,” said Sears of her transition from player to coach at SUU. “She knows the game and loves what she does. She is also a great teacher and does all she can to help you learn.”
There is a great deal of mutual respect between Sears and her former coach and new colleague. Coach Payne expects that the positive traits that Sears displayed as a player will help her to succeed in her new role with the team.
“Cait is going to be a tremendous asset to our coaching staff. As a player, she was always our leader both on and off the floor,” said Payne of her former player. “Cait’s work ethic and passion for the game is undeniable and has always earned her the respect of her peers as well as everyone around her. I expect that Cait’s leadership will continue to impact our team in a way that motivates our players to strive for greatness.”
The former forward was a four-year letter winner at Lone Peak High School and was named first-team all-state by the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News as well as a McDonald’s All-American nominee in 2007. She will graduate from Southern Utah with a degree in physical education this fall.
Sears is the daughter of Brad and Judi Sears of Cedar Hills, Utah.
