[North Sonoma Coast]

When Stanford chose Kate to replace Tara, my wife and I supported the choice. We assumed that Tara would pick an excellent successor, that Kate years earlier had been promised the position when she had received other head coach offers, that Kate had helped choose and recruit the outstanding freshman class, that Kate knew how to cope with Stanford's administrators, especially admissions, and parents, that Kate had a good rapport with the players, and that she knew how to coach.

We did think Kate did not have a terrific public persona. Twice at pregame chalk talks we had seen her snap at fans' asking perfectly reasonable questions. She in games seemed to scowl more than smile. Often we noticed that Tara did not turn to her for strategy at intense game moments. As 2025-26 progressed we lost confidence in her inconsistent offense, her snap substitutions, and her forced post game interviews. The "Sisterhood" seemed neither spontaneous nor warm, except, ironically, when Lara spoke post game about her love for Stanford. We assumed if Kate drove one good player out of town, questions instantly should have been asked. She drove seven.

If John Donahoe wants to torch a year, wants to save a few bucks, and refuses to hire a new coach who might stop the bleeding, we have an alternative, possibly interesting, solution. Our anecdotal impression is that the players liked Kate and Tempie far less than Heather and Katy, and Heather was the one diagramming plays in many tense moments.

So, we should terminate Kate and Tempie, not hire anyone new, and see what the year reveals, with either Heather or Katy as interim coach. With this approach, Donahoe saves his beloved bucks, Katy and Heather can tell potential recruits the Stanford crew is still experienced but different in tone, and the players can somewhat relax and play with the enthusiasm of a team that can only do better than our rock bottom expectations.

We have to add one personal note about Tara. We always, in contrast to Ben, arrive early, at least thirty minutes before game time. Once, in Tara's last year, from our seats well above the bench, we happened to notice Tara quickly moving up into the stands to help an elderly woman navigate through the rows to the safety of her seat. Tara's random act of kindness was not performative but instinctual. Only a few of us could have noticed. She may have been a tough, rigorous coach but her decades of players, with four or five exceptions, knew that she loved and cared for them.

To be admittedly cruel, we postulate that Kate would seem to want to be Tara, but was Tara without the reputation, the basketball acumen, and the personal warmth. Two years ago , Stanford needed an experienced WBB alumna who would not attempt to replicate Tara but cut a new path. (Yes, perhaps Lindy) This year, we need to acknowledge that losing six fine players warrants some modicum of change. We've got two coaches the players like, under contract. Choose one for an interim year that may turn out to be for many years.

Acting publicly, if not privately, without his making any coaching changes, as though all is well, when it obviously isn't, Donahoe will be subjecting both players and fans to a brutal 2026-27 losing year, with no ACC victories in sight, is unconscionable.

[North Sonoma Coast]

When Stanford chose Kate to replace Tara, my wife and I supported the choice. We assumed that Tara would pick an excellent successor, that Kate years earlier had been promised the position when she had received other head coach offers, that Kate had helped choose and recruit the outstanding freshman class, that Kate knew how to cope with Stanford's administrators, especially admissions, and parents, that Kate had a good rapport with the players, and that she knew how to coach.

We did think Kate did not have a terrific public persona. Twice at pregame chalk talks we had seen her snap at fans' asking perfectly reasonable questions. She in games seemed to scowl more than smile. Often we noticed that Tara did not turn to her for strategy at intense game moments. As 2025-26 progressed we lost confidence in her inconsistent offense, her snap substitutions, and her forced post game interviews. The "Sisterhood" seemed neither spontaneous nor warm, except, ironically, when Lara spoke post game about her love for Stanford. We assumed if Kate drove one good player out of town, questions instantly should have been asked. She drove seven.

If John Donahoe wants to torch a year, wants to save a few bucks, and refuses to hire a new coach who might stop the bleeding, we have an alternative, possibly interesting, solution. Our anecdotal impression is that the players liked Kate and Tempie far less than Heather and Katy, and Heather was the one diagramming plays in many tense moments.

So, we should terminate Kate and Tempie, not hire anyone new, and see what the year reveals, with either Heather or Katy as interim coach. With this approach, Donahoe saves his beloved bucks, Katy and Heather can tell potential recruits the Stanford crew is still experienced but different in tone, and the players can somewhat relax and play with the enthusiasm of a team that can only do better than our rock bottom expectations.

We have to add one personal note about Tara. We always, in contrast to Ben, arrive early, at least thirty minutes before game time. Once, in Tara's last year, from our seats well above the bench, we happened to notice Tara quickly moving up into the stands to help an elderly woman navigate through the rows to the safety of her seat. Tara's random act of kindness was not performative but instinctual. Only a few of us could have noticed. She may have been a tough, rigorous coach but her decades of players, with four or five exceptions, knew that she loved and cared for them.

To be admittedly cruel, we postulate that Kate would seem to want to be Tara, but was Tara without the reputation, the basketball acumen, and the personal warmth. Two years ago , Stanford needed an experienced WBB alumna who would not attempt to replicate Tara but cut a new path. (Yes, perhaps Lindy) This year, we need to acknowledge that losing six fine players warrants some modicum of change. We've got two coaches the players like, under contract. Choose one for an interim year that may turn out to be for many years.

Acting publicly, if not privately, without his making any coaching changes, as though all is well, when it obviously isn't, Donahoe will be subjecting both players and fans to a brutal 2026-27 losing year, with no ACC victories in sight, is unconscionable.