BYU Women’s Basketball Hires Amber Whiting As Head Coach
May 18, 2022, 4:31 PM
Photo Courtesy of BYU Athletics
PROVO, Utah – BYU women’s basketball has its new head coach in place for the Big 12 era.
Amber Whiting will take over for Jeff Judkins, who announced his retirement after a 21-year run last April. Whiting comes to BYU from Burley High School in Idaho, where she led her program to a state championship in 2022.
#BYU announces Amber Whiting as the new women's basketball head coach.
She's a former guard at #BYU in the early 2000s. Her husband is former #BYU men's guard Trent Whiting.#BYUHoops @kslsports
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) May 18, 2022
“I am thrilled to have Amber Whiting leading our BYU women’s basketball team,” BYU Athletic Director Tom Holmoe said. “Through our hiring process we discovered a coach with a well thought out, specific plan for the future of this team. Amber has had a unique and widespread experience in basketball, has a great feel for the women’s game and the direction it is heading at BYU, in the Big 12 and nationally.”
Amber Whiting is the seventh coach in BYU Women’s basketball history
Whiting is the seventh head coach since BYU women’s basketball was established in 1972.
“I am super excited about the opportunity to be the head coach at BYU,” Whiting said. “I’ve been in basketball my whole life playing, coaching and developing players, and I am looking forward to doing it again at this level. Coach Judkins established a great tradition of winning and a strong culture with some incredible players. I can’t wait to get on board and continue that legacy and surround myself with a great staff. I am ready to get to work.”
Whiting takes over a BYU women’s basketball program that finished 26-4 and received a 6-seed in the 2022 NCAA Tournament. The Cougars lost in the Round of 64 to 11-seed Villanova this past March.
Proud to welcome head coach Amber Whiting! pic.twitter.com/BbI6zUdhjA
— BYU Women's Hoops (@byuwbb) May 18, 2022
BYU will play the 2022-23 season in the West Coast Conference before moving into the Big 12 Conference the following year.
Whiting inherits a BYU roster that features two-time WCC Player of the Year Shaylee Gonzales at guard. 2021 AP Honorable Mention All-American Lauren Gustin at forward also returns.
Whiting has strong ties to BYU. She concluded her college career at BYU during the 2000-2001 season after transferring from Weber State. Her husband, Trent Whiting, was a guard on the men’s basketball team during that same academic year.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
