Women’s head basketball coach June Daugherty suffered cardiac arrest Tuesday afternoon and is currently recovering at the Providence Everett Medical Center, according to her husband and associate head coach Mike Daugherty.
Daugherty, who was hired to direct the Cougar women’s basketball program April 20, had arrived at an Everett medical clinic for a scheduled physical examination when the cardiac arrest occurred. Personnel at the clinic attended to June Daugherty and she was then taken to the Everett Providence Medical Center.
Late Wednesday morning hospital personnel upgraded Daugherty’s condition from critical to serious condition. Flowers were not being accepted at this time.
“June is doing as well as can be expected,” Mike Daugherty said. “We appreciate all those who have expressed their concerns and appreciate their prayers. Right now we request that everyone respect the privacy of our family.”
According to Mike Daugherty, June’s condition was not described as a heart attack, no blockage was found and there are no anticipated long-term issues at this time. No specific time table for her recovery has been made by the medical personnel attending June.
Rod Commons, WSU sports information director, said his office has been told that “she can return to full activity.” And that they “expect full recovery.”
Daugherty was appointed head coach after an 11-year tenure at the University of Washington. During her time with the Huskies, she led the team to nine postseason appearances, including a NCAA Tournament appearance during her first season in 1997. In 2001, she led the team to its first Pacific-10 Conference title since 1990 and guided the Huskies all the way to the NCAA Regional Final.
Daugherty was named a finalist for the prestigious Naismith Coach of the Year Award in 2003 and, most recently, took Washington to the 2007 NCAA Tournament, the team’s second consecutive appearance.
In her 11 seasons as the head women’s basketball coach at Washington, Daugherty compiled a 191-139 (.579) overall record and a 113-85
(.571) mark in Pac-10 play.
Prior to her arrival at Washington, Daugherty coached at Boise State from 1989-96 where she accumulated a 123-74 overall record and a 73-31 record in the Big Sky Conference. Under Daugherty’s guidance, the Boise State program reached a number of firsts including its first NCAA Tournament appearance, its first national ranking and its first regular season conference title.
Additionally, Daugherty served as an assistant coach to Tara VanDerveer at Stanford from 1985-89. She also had a two-year stint on the Kent State staff from 1983-85.
A 1978 graduate of The Ohio State University, Daugherty played for the Buckeyes from 1974-78 and helped lead the team to consecutive Big Ten championships in 1977 and 1978. At the conclusion of her senior season, she earned first team All-America honors and was a Wade Trophy finalist in 1978, the first year the award was presented. In 2001, Daugherty was honored for her contributions to the Buckeyes’ program when she was inducted into The Ohio State University Athletics Hall of Fame.
Following graduation, Daugherty played on and coached several international teams, including the Union Sportive Vierzon Club in France where she was a player-coach.
Daugherty is a native of Columbus, Ohio. The Daughertys, currently live in Mukilteo, near Everett, and are the parents of 13-year-old twins, Doc and Breanne.
For more information, see:
* The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WSU women’s basketball coach upgraded to serious condition, http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_BKW_Daugherty_Hospitalized.html