SPSCC announces new women’s assistant basketball coach

South Puget Sound Community College hired Taylor Buie as the new assistant coach for the Clippers Women’s Basketball Team on Friday. Buie, a Puyallup native, will join the women’s basketball coaching staff led by head coach Darah Vining and is expected to replace the outgoing former assistant, Tracy Abesamis. 

Buie brings an extensive hoops resume to the Clippers. From 2019 to 2021, she served as an assistant coach at NWAC Division II Christian Brothers University (CBU), where she helped guide the Lady Bucs to their second-most wins in program history. 

“Coach Buie brings a wealth of knowledge into our program. With her extensive experience at the four-year collegiate level, both coaching and playing, we are incredibly fortunate to have her join our coaching staff,” stated Clippers head coach Vining. “I am confident she will make a significant impact on the development of our players, both on and off the court.” 

Before coaching, Buie had an impressive career in college hoops, achieving Honorable Mention All-American, All-Sunshine State Conference, and Honorable Mention All-Region honors while playing as two-guard at D-II Nova Southeastern University (NSU). She averaged 15 points per game in four seasons and was vital for the Sharks’ run to the NCAA Elite Eight 2012-13 season and the Final Four the season after. 

As a 5-foot-5 guard in her playing days, Buie also played an instrumental role in her lone year at Valdosta State, leading the Lady Blazers’ magical run to the 2018 NCAA South Region Championship game. 

“Aside from Coach Buie’s knowledge and experience, I am especially excited to welcome Coach to our all-women coaching staff. It is essential for our players to see strong female representation in these roles, allowing them to relate to their coaches both on and off the court. The ability to emphasize the power of women and coming together through the game of basketball is really special. She is bought in and ready to help us take off this season!” remarked Vining on the new appointment. 

Buie will join a Clipper’s women’s basketball team that finished last season with an 11-15 overall win-loss record, while just missing out of the Western Conference playoff with a 4-8 record, placing fifth out of eight schools in the conference.