Candace Elizabeth Whitaker (née White; born April 22, 1980) is an American college basketball coach who is currently women's basketball head coach at North Alabama.[1] Previously, Whitaker was head coach at UMKC and Texas Tech. After playing college basketball at Texas Tech, Whitaker returned to her alma mater to fill the position after former coach Kristy Curry left to coach at Alabama.[2][3] In April 2019, it was announced that Whitaker was selected as the new head women's basketball coach at Missouri Western State University.[4]
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head Coach |
| Team | North Alabama |
| Conference | ASUN |
| Record | 0–0 (–) |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | April 22, 1980 Canyon, Texas |
| Playing career | |
| 1998–2000 | Seward County CC |
| 2000–2002 | Texas Tech |
| Position(s) | Point guard |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2002–2004 | Valparaiso (asst.) |
| 2004–2006 | UMKC (asst.) |
| 2006–2012 | UMKC |
| 2012–2013 | Oklahoma State (assoc.) |
| 2013–2018 | Texas Tech |
| 2019–2024 | Missouri Western State |
| 2024–present | North Alabama |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 231–222 (.510) |
Coaching career
editKansas City (UMKC)
editIn the middle of the 2006-07 season, Whitaker was named the eighth coach in Kansas City Roos' history, replacing Bo Overton. She coached her first game in the Roos' conference opener, a 51-to-48 victory over Chicago State. She coached at Kansas City until the end of the 2011-12 year, compiling an overall record of 41-65. In her time at Kansas City, Whitaker led the Roos to two separate fourth-place Summit League finishes, in 2009-10 and 2011-12.[5]
Texas Tech University
editFollowing Kristy Curry's departure for Alabama on May 11, 2013, Whitaker was named the new head coach at Texas Tech University on May 20, 2013.[6] On January 1, 2018, Texas Tech fired Whitaker.[7][8]
Missouri Western State University
editIn April 2019, it was announced that Whitaker was selected as the new head women's basketball coach at Missouri Western State University. She led Missouri Western to the 2022 NCAA Division II Elite Eight.[9] Whitaker was also named 2024 MIAA Coach of the Year.[10]
University of North Alabama
editIn March 2024, Whitaker was announced as the head coach at North Alabama.[11]
Head coaching record
edit| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UMKC Kangaroos (Mid-Continent Conference/Summit League) (2006–2012) | |||||||||
| 2006–07 | UMKC* | 8–11** | 5–8** | T-5th | |||||
| 2007–08 | UMKC | 7–20** | 0–15** | 9th | |||||
| 2008–09 | UMKC | 11–18** | 6–11** | T-6th | |||||
| 2009–10 | UMKC | 16–16 | 12–6 | 5th | WBI First Round | ||||
| 2010–11 | UMKC | 14–16 | 9–9 | 6th | |||||
| 2011–12 | UMKC | 22–12 | 11–7 | 3rd | WNIT First Round | ||||
| UMKC: | 77–93 (.453)** | 43–56 (.434)** | |||||||
| Texas Tech Lady Raiders (Big 12 Conference) (2013–2018) | |||||||||
| 2013–14 | Texas Tech | 6–24 | 0–18 | 10th | |||||
| 2014–15 | Texas Tech | 15–16 | 5–13 | 10th | |||||
| 2015–16 | Texas Tech | 13–18 | 3–15 | 9th | |||||
| 2016–17 | Texas Tech | 14–17 | 5–13 | 8th | |||||
| 2017–18 | Texas Tech | 6–7*** | 0–2*** | ||||||
| Texas Tech: | 54–82 (.397) | 13–61 (.176) | |||||||
| Missouri Western Griffons (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association) (2019–2024) | |||||||||
| 2019–20 | Missouri Western | 21–8 | 13–6 | 4th | Tournament canceled due to COVID-19 | ||||
| 2020–21 | Missouri Western | 6–16 | 6–16 | T-10th | |||||
| 2021–22 | Missouri Western | 24–10 | 14–8 | 5th | NCAA Division II Elite Eight | ||||
| 2022–23 | Missouri Western | 24–7 | 18–4 | 3rd | |||||
| 2023–24 | Missouri Western | 25–6 | 19–3 | 1st | NCAA Division II First Round | ||||
| Missouri Western: | 100–47 (.680) | 70–37 (.654) | |||||||
| North Alabama Lions (ASUN) (2024–present) | |||||||||
| 2024–25 | North Alabama | 0–0 | 0–0 | ||||||
| North Alabama: | 0–0 (–) | 0–0 (–) | |||||||
| Total: | 231–222 (.510) | ||||||||
National champion Postseason invitational champion | |||||||||
* Whitaker became interim head coach in December 2006 following the resignation of Bo Overton.[12]
** Reflects 6 games (including 5 conference games) from 2007 to 2009 vacated due to league sanctions.[13]
Personal life
editWhitaker married her husband Matt Whitaker in April 2007. They have three sons: Westin, William, and Callahan.
References
edit- ^ "Candi Whitaker named UNA Women's Basketball Head Coach". University of North Alabama Athletics. 2024-03-25. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
- ^ "Candace Whitaker Biography". University of Missouri-Kansas City. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
- ^ "Candi Whitaker". Texas Tech University. Archived from the original on July 25, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- ^ "Candi Whitaker Named Head Women's Basketball Coach". GoGriffons Basketball.
- ^ "WBB Record Book 2020" (PDF).
- ^ Magelssen, Tommy (May 20, 2013). "Former Lady Raider Candace Whitaker named new Texas Tech women's basketball coach (updated)". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
- ^ "Texas Tech fires Candi Whitaker, Gray-Miller named interim coach". KJTV Fox 34. January 1, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
- ^ Silva, Carlos Jr. (January 1, 2018). "Texas Tech relieves Whitaker of head coaching duties". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
- ^ "2022 Division II Women's Basketball Official Bracket | NCAA.com". www.ncaa.com. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
- ^ Kennedy, Brett (2024-03-05). "Missouri Western's Candi Whitaker wins MIAA Coach of the year, Connie Clarke wins Defensive Player of Year". KQ2. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
- ^ "Candi Whitaker named UNA Women’s Basketball Head Coach" WHNT. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
- ^ "Overton leaves UMKC mid-season to lead Sky". ESPN. December 13, 2006. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ 2015–16 UMKC Women's Basketball Media Guide, pp. 64–65
- ^ "Texas Tech fires Candi Whitaker, Gray-Miller named interim coach". KJTV Fox 34. January 1, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
- ^ Silva, Carlos Jr. (January 1, 2018). "Texas Tech relieves Whitaker of head coaching duties". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved January 20, 2018.