The Arizona women’s basketball program continued to expand its coaching staff and roster Friday.
New coach Becky Burke is bringing at least one of her assistants from Buffalo to Tucson. The UA announced that James Ewing will be joining the Wildcats’ staff after spending the past two seasons with the Bulls.
New Arizona women's basketball assistant coach James Ewing.
“I am absolutely thrilled to have James here in Tucson with me,” Burke said in a news release. “He is a high-level recruiter, high-character man and brings exceptional energy and passion for the game. James was a large part of the success we had at Buffalo, and I am so excited for us to continue that success together here at Arizona.”
Ewing previously worked for St. Bonaventure, Daemen University and Bryant & Stratton College. He played two seasons at Toledo and two more at Mercyhurst before playing four seasons of professional basketball.
After her playing career at Arizona, Julie Brase Hairgrove, right, went on to coach college basketball and in the WNBA, including with the Phoenix Mercury.
The UA also made official the appointment of Julie Hairgrove to an assistant coach position, as first reported by the Star on Tuesday.
“The bloodline of Arizona basketball is strong, and there’s no one it’s stronger in than Julie,” Burke said of Hairgrove, who played at the UA and is the granddaughter of legendary Wildcat men’s coach Lute Olson. “We are so fortunate to not only hire an incredible coach that is an alum of our university and program, but also a woman of great character.
“Julie’s experience in the WNBA and ties to this university and region will be invaluable when it comes to recruiting the best players in the country. I am thrilled that our players will be able to learn and grow under someone like Julie.”
Hairgrove spent almost two decades as an assistant coach with the Phoenix Mercury.
The former Julie Brase graduated from Catalina Foothills High School as the all-time leading scorer in Arizona girls basketball history with 2,913 points. She led her team to a state championship in 1997 and was inducted into the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.
New Orleans center Nora Francois dribbles during the second half against Alabama on Nov. 4, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Hairgrove played at Arizona from 1998-2003 under Joan Bonvicini, serving as a team captain for two seasons while helping lead the Wildcats to three NCAA Tournament appearances.
Also Friday, former Kansas forward Freddie Wallace and former New Orleans center Nora Francois announced that they’re transferring to Arizona.
Wallace redshirted this past season, her lone year in Lawrence, after transferring from Butler Community College, where she was a two-time All-American. The 6-foot-2 product of Lincoln, Nebraska, averaged 18.4 points as a sophomore in 2023-24 and left Butler as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,138 career points.
Francois spent the past three seasons at New Orleans after starting her college career at North Iowa Area Community College. The Minneapolis product improved every season with the Privateers, notching career highs in multiple categories this past season, including points (15.0) and rebounds (8.2).
Francois, also listed at 6-2, notched a triple-double on Feb. 20 vs. Texas A&M-Commerce, recording 19 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists.
Wallace and Francois are the first commits in Arizona’s 2025 transfer class who are over 6 feet. The other four players are guards or wings.
