Casey Kushiyama - Building Your Culture

The Coach

Washington State Girls Basketball Coaches Association

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Casey Kushiyama is in his fourth season (2020-21) as the Puget Sound women's basketball head coach, and his 15^th overall as a coach. In each of the last two seasons, he led the Loggers to postseason appearances in the NWC Tournament. During that stretch, Jamie Lange '19 MAT '20, Mara Henderson '20, and Elizabeth Prewitt earned All-NWC Selections. Lange was the NWC Player of the Year in 2018-19, and she was twice selected to the D3hoops.com All-West Region Team. 

Kushiyama’s NWC roots run deep, starting with his playing career as a point guard at Linfield College. Upon graduation, he helped as an assistant coach and head JV coach for the Linfield men’s basketball team for three seasons. He was served as the interim head coach for Linfield women's basketball.

Following that season, Kushiyama joined the Whitworth men’s coaching staff as an assistant coach for the 2008-2009 season. That season the Pirates were ranked as high as No. 7 nationally and won the NWC Tournament Championship. Kushiyama also held coaching positions with the George Fox and Whitman women's basketball programs, and his teams made several deep runs in the NCAA Tournament. He helped Whitman to the National Championship game during the 2013-14 season.