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 fifth 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.
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 ranked 39th in 3 point field goals made and freshman Tia LaFavor 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, Michelle Skala, and Pam Dodge, started a total of 46 games for the Stars and gained valuable experience. Junior college transfers Amy Burklund, Josy Sanders, and Venicia Vaughn 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 Camp, Oliver Purnell's Basketball Camp, Fort Hays State University Basketball Camp, Heart of America Basketball Camp, and the Show-Me State Games.
Pavlovich stated that, "This year's team has a great deal of experience and depth. Although we don't have any seniors, we have a total of eleven players that have spent significant time on the college hardwood. The newcomers to the program have infused a good deal of enthusiasm and have been strong contributors in our early season workouts. This season has the potential to be an amazing ride."
Pavlovich and his wife, Amy Kay, have been married for eleven years and are residents of Columbia. The Pavlovich’s welcomed the birth of Sebastian on May 9, 2005 and are expecting a new arrival in May 2008. Amy Kay is an Associate Minister at First Christian Church in downtown Columbia.
