Natasha Adair Introduced As New ASU Women's Hoops Coach

TEMPE, AZ —Natasha Adair was introduced officially to the local media on Monday, a day after she was hired as Arizona State's first new women's basketball coach in a quarter-century.

Adair replaces Charli Turner Thorne, ASU's all-time winningest coach who retired earlier this month after 25 years at the helm.

For the past five seasons, Adair has been in charge at the University of Delaware, where she compiled a 95-58 record. This past season, she led Delaware to the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance in nearly a decade.

Prior to coaching Delaware, Adair spent three seasons as the head coach at Georgetown.

At Adair's introductory press conference —which also featured ASU Athletic Director Ray Anderson, Senior Associate Athletic Director Christina Wombacher and University President Dr. Michael Crow —the new coach talked about her philosophy on the court and in the locker room.

"Our formula is: defend, rebound, run, and score. In that order. And I'll say it again. Defend, rebound, run and score," Adair said. "We want to make sure that whoever we play, they're uncomfortable — they're uncomfortable every step of the way."

Adair added: "To the players ... this is your program, this is your team, and you matter. This will be a player-led coach-supported program, and we will get back to your why and we will take it a step further. We will do this together. I cannot wait to get started."

Adair is a Maryland native who played collegiately at Pensacola Junior College and the University of South Florida, graduating from the latter in 1994 with a degree in communications.

She also has served as an assistant at Wake Forest and Georgetown.

"Charli's retirement leaves a legacy spanning 25 years, and in looking for the next leader of Sun Devil women's basketball, we wanted a coach who could build off a long-tenured culture of success with respect for the past while also establishing their own unique identity to drive the program forward," Anderson said. "We're excited to have found that person in Natasha and look forward to the next era of Sun Devil women's basketball."

The Sun Devils finished 12-14 this past season.