Stephens Stars: Women's Basketball
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Meet the Coach: Dane Pavlovich
dpavlovich@stephens.edu
573-876-2342 (office)
Coach Dane Pavlovich enters his sixth season as Head Coach at Stephens College. He also serves as Head Cross Country Coach and Associate Athletic Director on campus. Coach Pavlovich came to Stephens from Linn High School where he was the Head Boys' Basketball Coach, Athletic Director, Assistant Track Coach, and Language Arts Instructor. Coach Pavlovich's squads have been known for their quality team play, attention to fundamentals, and player development.
Stephens' first season in the American Midwest Conference and NAIA Division I started off with historic achievements. Pavlovich's sixth season at Stephens saw the Stars burst into the 2008-2009 campaign with four consecutive wins. After a brief two game losing streak, the Stars sizzled to a three game winning streak to end the 2008 with a 7-2 record. The team's 4-0 start was the best in school history, and the 7-2 mark was the Stars' best record going into Christmas break. Stephens' first year in the AMC was typified by agonizingly close losses. The Stars lost eight games by 13 points or less-including three of the first four losses by five points or less. The Stars, however, earned the school's first AMC with a Senior Day victory over Williams Baptist College. After falling behind early, the Stars rallied to earn a 61-55 victory for seniors Bug Dominguez, Stephanie Dippold, Rachel Henderson, Ali Roper, Kerri Shanks, and Jessica Stanley. The Stars earned several team rankings in NAIA Division I including: 15 th in Total Rebound Defense, 34 th in Field Goal Percentage Defense, 44 th in 3 Pointers Made per Game, 45 th in Scoring Defense per Game, 46 th in Team Free Throw Percentage, and 50 th in Offensive Rebounds per Game. Finally, Cara Leis and Megan Sheffield were recognized for individual accomplishments. Leis ranked 19 th in Free Throw Percentage, and Sheffield finished 41 st in Blocks per Game and 43 rd in Offensive Rebounds per Game.
In Coach Pavlovich's fifth season at Stephens, the team broke through with an extremely succesful campaign. After starting the season 1-7, the Stars won every game in December and lost only once in January (going 8-1 during that stretch). Buoyed by an enthusiastic, raucous home crowd and even-keeled road efforts, Stephens rattled off winning streaks of five, four, and three games during the season. The result was a 14-12 record; the first time in the nine year history of the program that the team finished above .500. Stephens ranked in the top 50 in NAIA Division II in four categories: 25th in steals per game (11.385), 40th in total rebound defense (35.654), 45th in scoring defense per game (62.654), and 50th in turnover margin (1.346). Individually, sophomore Ali Roper (Hobart, IN) ranked number 32 in 3 Point Field Goals Made per Game (2.240). In Stephens' last year as an NAIA independant, nine different Stars scored in double figures at least once during the season and nine different players made starting appearances for the team.
Pavlovich's fourth season at the helm of the Stars continued the improvement process. The 2006-2007 team won a school-record ten games and achieved numerous team and individual honors. Amongst other accolades, the team ranked 6th in NAIA Division II with 12.625 steals per game and 23rd in turnover margin at +3.750. Individually, sophomore Ali Roper (Hobart, IN) ranked 39th in 3 point field goals made and freshman Tia LaFavor (Leeton, MO) finished 40th in offensive rebounds per game. Fueled by winning four out of the last five games, the team cracked double digit wins with a decisive 93-39 victory at Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, WI. A dynamic group of freshman helped to raise the level of play of the team. Five freshman made a total of 44 starts for Stephens. Overall though, quality team chemistry, depth, and the strong play of the sophomore class lead the Stars to an historic year.
The third season of Pavlovich's tenure at Stephens lead to a school-record tying nine victories. The Stars won nine games during the 2005-06 season, but the record-tying achievement was not easy. The Stars needed victories in four of the last seven game to achieve the distinction. Perhaps the team's crowning achievement was a 68-63 January 31, 2006 victory over Central Methodist University at Silverthorne Arena. Probably the biggest victory in school history, the team crawled back from a ten point deficit midway through the second half to earn the win. In addition, the Stars sent seniors Amy Burklund (Olsburg, KS), Josy Sanders (Washburn, MO), and Venicia Vaughn off with a convincing 73-38 Senior Night victory over St. Louis College of Pharmacy. Appropriately, Sanders and Vaughn each tallied 14 points to lead the team; Sanders also pulled down 10 rebounds for the double-double in her last game at Silverthorne Arena. The future remains very bright for Stephens College basketball as twelve different Stars appeared in the starting lineup, including six different freshmen cracking the first five.
In his second season at Stephens, the Stars improved to 5-21 against strong NAIA-level competition. Injuries again plagued the Stars as the original starting lineup never took the floor in 2006 together. Three freshman, Elyse Steffan (Williamsburg, MO), Michelle Skala (St. Louis, MO), and Pam Dodge (Hatton, MO), started a total of 46 games for the Stars and gained valuable experience. Junior college transfers Amy Burklund (Olsburg, KS), Josy Sanders (Washburn, MO), and Venicia Vaughn (St. Louis, MO) lead the way in most offensive and defensive categories. Ten freshman recruits were added to the roster after the season to continue to bolster the Stars basketball program.
In his first season as the Stars' coach, Pavlovich guided the team through an injury riddled 1-18 campaign. Stephens started off strong with a 77-67 victory over Principia College; however, the opening night roster never was in tact for the rest of the season and the team did not find the win column again. New life entered the program with the college's new affiliation with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the change resulted in eleven new recruits that will be outstanding additions to the team as well as the campus community.
At Linn High School, Coach Pavlovich led the Wildcats to a 47-32 career record in three seasons. In his first year, Linn amassed a 22-5 record and finished 5th in the Class 2 Final Associated Press poll. Pavlovich coached ten All-Conference players, three All-District performers, and one All-State honoree. In addition, Pavlovich has been involved with many camps other basketball related activities, including both Cindy Stein's and Quin Snyder's University of Missouri Basketball Camps, Oliver Purnell's Basketball Camp, Fort Hays State University Basketball Camp, Heart of America Basketball Camp, and the Show-Me State Games.
In reference to the 2008-2009 season, Pavlovich stated that, "This year's team has a great deal of experience and depth. We have six seniors that have played a great deal of collegiate basketball and have been through the fire. Overall, our roster is filled with players who have the ability to contribute in various ways. We understand we have a challenge ahead of us by playing our first year in the American Midwest Conference, but the momentum we gained and the combination of our returners and newcomers, we feel we have the potential to have a very exciting year."
Pavlovich and his wife, Amy Kay, have been married for twelve years and are residents of Columbia. The Pavlovich’s are proud parents of two boys: Sebastian (born on May 9, 2005) and Atticus (born May 2, 2008). Amy Kay is an Associate Minister at First Christian Church in downtown Columbia.
