By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Bailey Pasta has been hired as an assistant coach for the Willamette University women's basketball team, Head Women's Basketball Coach Peg Swadener announced today. Pasta spent the past two seasons as an assistant women's basketball coach at her alma mater, Carroll College in Helena, Montana.

"I am so excited to welcome Bailey to the Bearcat women's basketball family," Swadener said. "Her championship experience, both as a player and coach, along with her ability to build strong relationships as a mentor and recruiter, will be a tremendous asset to this program."

Prior to coaching at Carroll, Pasta was a graduate assistant coach with the Gonzaga University women's basketball team. She graduated from Gonzaga with a master's degree in Sports Administration in 2020. She earned a bachelor of arts with a major in Psychology from Carroll in 2018.

While working toward her undergraduate degree, Pasta competed as a guard on the Carroll College women's basketball team from 2014-15 through 2017-18. The team was nationally competitive in the NAIA, including national tournament berths in 2014-15, 2015-16, and 2017-18. Pasta also served as a team captain.

Pasta also played basketball at Skyview High School in Nampa, Idaho, where her mother was the head coach. Pasta helped the team earn an undefeated record in 2013-14 while winning a conference title, District Championship, and State Championship. She was named First Team All-State in 2013-14 and was chosen Second Team All-State in 2011-12. She earned First Team All-Conference honors in 2011-12 and 2012-13, and was named Second Team All-Conference in 2010-11. She was selected as the Conference Player of the Year during her senior season.

In addition to her experiences as a collegiate coach, Pasta attended the Women's Sports Foundation Gala in 2019 as a Tara Vanderveer grant recipient. She participated in a professional development workshop in association with the gala.