Fansided

5 coaches in line to win their first NCAA Women’s Tournament

By Justin Carter

Mar 6, 2022; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Lady Bears head coach Nicki Collen looks on against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the first half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2022; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Lady Bears head coach Nicki Collen looks on against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the first half at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports /
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Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Nicki Collen, Baylor

Unlike the other coaches on this list, Nicki Collen doesn’t have any NCAA Tournament success, because this is her first year as a head coach.

Sorry, I mean as a college basketball head coach.

Collen joined Baylor in 2021 after Kim Mulkey departed for LSU. At the time, Collen was the head coach of the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, but the appeal of coaching one of the best teams in college basketball was too much to resist.

Baylor lost a handful of players to the transfer portal after Collen was hired, putting Baylor in a weird position heading into the season, as it had a championship-caliber starting lineup and exactly zero depth.

So, how did Collen get the team to a No. 2 seed? By reinventing Baylor. The team still ran through big NaLyssa Smith, but Collen emphasized the three-ball more, with the team jumping from the second percentile in three-point attempts per game to the 57th percentile. Early in the season, it looked like this team wouldn’t adjust. It struggled to beat Sun Belt program Texas State and spent the first half against UT Arlington in a dog fight. But eventually, the shots started falling. The depth issues still exist, but Collen has a chance to win the title in her first opportunity.