Following the historic 2022 season, during which the Lady Bears secured third place at the state tournament for the first time in program history, Tahoma ushers in new leadership. Under the authority of new head coach, Julie Anderson, the Bears aspire to make their return to the Tacoma Dome continuing the legacy of excellence within the program.
Though Anderson may be new to Tahoma, she is no amateur to the world of coaching. “I have been coaching off and on for 25 years,” Julie explains.
She began her coaching career as an assistant at Seattle University, and has continued to touch the lives of players at various levels from youth to the high school level. 12 years ago she seized a coaching opportunity with Enumclaw High School and has been coaching there ever since. After last season’s triumphant finish, Tahoma’s former head coach, Peter Smith, decided to step down to spend more time with family.
When Anderson heard of the position opening up, she promptly showed interest and sent in her application. “Pete has built an amazing program and couldn’t pass up on the opportunity to continue what he has started.”
Typically the introduction of a new coach comes with the growing pains of a rebuild, however Anderson plans to instead build on what has already been established within the team. “I’m excited to continue a strong program and challenge these athletes to reach their full potential as basketball players. I also can’t wait to instill confidence and life lessons that these girls can take off the court.”
Over the last four years especially, Tahoma has become known as a powerhouse for girls basketball in Washington. The Varsity girls have won the NPSL league title every year since the 2020-2021 season, and last year the program made its first state tournament appearance since 1999. Additionally, the program has produced several collegiate players, including NCAA Division One athletes in stars Hope Hassmann and Amelie Sitterud. When one wears the Tahoma jersey, there is a certain reputation that precedes them. This team and coaching staff have high expectations leading into this season. In addition to a new head coach, the roster has a lot of new faces.
Lily Cavanaugh is one of only three returning seniors, and she recognizes the potential hurdles this team must overcome to achieve that same level of success. “I think we play really hard but we’re young so it’s about that learning curve coming into season.”
Despite these challenges, Tahoma has the pieces and the determination needed to achieve their team goals. Offering a fresh perspective and a wealth of experience, the arrival of a new coach brings promise of an exciting era of growth and success for the Lady Bears.
