FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- NAU women’s basketball coach Sue Darling announced Wednesday the additions of Jamie Shadian, Robyne Bostick and Karlie Burris as assistant coaches heading into Darling’s first year at the helm.
“You win with people,” said Darling. “I am excited and honored to introduce three extremely talented, motivated and caring individuals. Jamie, Robyne, and Karlie will not only add value to the lives of our young women, but they will be tremendous additions to our athletic department, university and community. They each bring high-caliber playing experience, successful coaching experience and, most importantly, tremendous life experience.”
Shadian comes to NAU after serving as an assistant coach last season at New Mexico State, where she brought in the 17th-ranked recruiting class in the nation for 2012. She previously coached for two years as an assistant at Tennessee State and also has coaching experience at Northwood University, Poway High School, and U.S. Junior Girls Basketball and is the head coach for the USA Open Women’s Basketball team that will compete in July 2013 at the Maccabiah Games in Israel. As a player, Shadian ended her career as the all-time assisst leader at the University of San Francisco, leading the Dons to three West Coast Conference championships and three NCAA tournament appearances, including a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 1996. She was inducted into the USF Hall of Fame in February 2008.
“Jamie has great life experience,” noted Darling. “She was a great player as the starting point guard on a San Francisco team that went from good to great, so her playing experience alone gives her great credibility and the knowhow to not only help our team win the Big Sky but advance in the NCAAs. Coaching wise, she’s gained knowledge in all different areas and has a wide variety of experiences that will add a lot of value to me as well as our players.”
Bostick reunites with Darling after serving on her staff as an assistant at Air Force from 1998-2001. Bostick also has coaching experience at Princeton, Vanderbilt, James Madison and most recently Long Island University, where she served as the associate head coach. Since 2008, Bostick has been a certified personal trainer and recreation assistant in Colorado Springs while also serving as a certified basketball official. From 2004-06, Bostick served as a morale, welfare and recreation supervisor on United States military bases in Iraq. She is a member of the Philadelphia Big 5 Hall of Fame after playing at Saint Joseph’s University, and she earned a master’s in sport and exercise science from Northern Colorado in 2009.
“I’ve known Robyne for a long time, and she’s the type of person that people love to be around and work with,” Darling said. “She is very knowledgeable and has a very good head for the game, both offensively and defensively. She was also a very talented player and will be able to pass that knowledge along to our players. She’s been around the game for a long time, and her knowledge will be a tremendous asset.”
Burris, a 2009 graduate of the University of Portland, was a West Coast Conference honorable-mention selection and four-year letterwinner for the Pilots after playing high school basketball at Salpointe Catholic in Tucson. She spent the last two years at Seattle University under former Arizona head coach Joan Bonvicini, serving as a video coordinator and graduate assistant for the Redhawks while earning a master’s in sport administration and leadership. At Seattle, Burris was responsible for editing film and coordinating exchanges and assisting with team travel and functions. She also served as a tutor and mentor for Seattle student-athletes and has previous experience as an assistant coach for girl’s basketball at Rex Putnam High School.
“Karlie has always been associated with good programs and great coaches,” said Darling. “She knows what it takes to improve a program, as she also had that experience as a player at Portland and being a part of Joan Bonvicini’s staff at Seattle. She has always surrounded herself with great people, and she is very sharp and has a great understanding of the game.”
Darling, a former Arizona and Arizona State assistant who also served as head coach at Air Force for three years, was hired June 18 to replace former coach Laurie Kelly, who resigned in April.
