Traci Thirdgill '86, Varsity Basketball Assistant Coach
For Coach Traci Thirdgill, basketball has been a big part of her life for decades. From playing at the collegiate and professional levels to coaching athletes of all ages, she has spent more than 20 years learning, teaching, and sharing her love of the game. She’s excited to bring that experience to SMA and help the next generation of athletes grow both on and off the court.
Traci was also a Division I player at the University of Washington from 1986–1990, where she was a starter and co-team captain. She helped the Huskies to Pac-10 co-championships and NCAA tournament appearances, including trips to the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight. She was also recognized as one of Washington's top defenders and later played professionally with the Columbus Quest and New England Blizzard.
This is Traci's first year coaching at St. Mary's, and she's excited to be part of the next chapter of SMA basketball. What she enjoys most about coaching is helping athletes discover what they're capable of while building a team culture centered on hard work, teamwork, accountability, and resilience.
One of the biggest lessons she hopes her athletes take with them is simple: learn how to respond. Basketball will bring mistakes, challenges, and setbacks, but Traci wants her athletes to learn how to stay together, keep moving forward, and handle both success and adversity with confidence.
When she's not coaching, Traci enjoys walking and staying active with low-impact fitness. And if she needs a little pre-game energy, you might hear Whitney Houston's “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” playing nearby.
A Few Favorites:
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Favorite team: Las Vegas Aces
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Favorite athletes: A'ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray & Diana Taurasi
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Pre-game meal: Pasta
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Go-to pump-up song: “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” by Whitney Houston
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Favorite hobby: Walking & low-impact fitness
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Coaching philosophy: Build resilience, stay together, and keep moving forward.
Best part of coaching: Watching an athlete compete with everything they have while still showing grace, respect, and sportsmanship.
