Washington AD preaches patience with Tia Jackson and women's hoops

Lately talk of another Washington women's basketball season has been synonymous with rumblings to fire coach Tia Jackson.

After all, she guided the team to a 21-40 record in two seasons since being hired in 2007, including a Pac-10-record 77-point loss to Stanford. Yet athletic director Scott Woodward says he isn't preparing for a coaching change.

Woodward spoke at the Kitsap County Bremerton Athletic Roundtable in September, saying that Jackson and men's soccer coach Dean Wurzberger were "put on notice," according to the Kitsap Sun. Yet before Washington's Media Day on Tuesday Woodward backtracked on that statement.

"That was more overstated and a misunderstanding of what I had to say," Woodward said. "I've told everyone that we're not going to accept mediocrity around here. We're going to be good, and we're going to be excellent in all we do.

"When I told them at the round-table that we had 19 of our 23 sports make it to postseason play, that's where we need to be — that's a minimum. Now, does that mean that Tia has to make it to postseason play this season? No, of course not. What I have to see from Tia and all of our coaches is marked progress."

Jackson appeared relaxed while answering questions Tuesday. She has 12 returning players and believes Washington will do better than the last-place finish predicted by Pac-10 media and coaches

"If we stay healthy, we're going to be pretty exciting to watch," said Jackson, whose team was plagued by injuries last year. "Scott and I have a tremendous relationship, and the expectations are known. I just don't think about a lot of negative stuff."

Woodward blamed decisions made by his predecessor, Todd Turner, for the difficult transition from fired coach June Daugherty to Jackson. In 11 seasons, Daugherty led the school to six NCAA tournament appearances.

Woodward said he would have handled the players' transition differently than Turner. The former Huskies AD denied all six of the Huskies' prized class of 2007 recruits permission to transfer.

By season's end, four left the program. Jackson, who signed a five-year contract, is still trying to recover.

"In my opinion, it was poorly managed," Woodward said. "I would have never made kids that committed here on a coaching change stay. Never. I would have said that I'm not going to let you out until you meet the new coach. After that, you can do whatever you want to do."

The Huskies open the season with an exhibition game Thursday against Seattle Pacific. It's the debut of touted transfer Regina Rogers, a 6-foot-3 center from Chief Sealth in West Seattle, who'll start at center. But returnee Liz Lay is out with knee soreness.

"Tia is a work-in-progress," Woodward said. "I think she's going to be a great coach. We have to continue to support her and be patient and I would tell the fans the same thing."

Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067 or jevans@seattletimes.com