Kayla McPherson’s coaching journey continues with an exciting new opportunity

Due to a series of injuries, Kayla McPherson's college basketball career didn't go as planned.

However, while the journey was a difficult one for her, she did find her calling through it all, one that is going to keep her involved in the sport of basketball for a very long time.

During her time in Chapel Hill, McPherson showcased leadership qualities that you typically see in the elite coaches across the sport. Even though she couldn't compete for much of her time at North Carolina, she was a leader for her team, and ultimately transitioned to a student assistant coach role after medically retiring before the start of the 2025-2026 season.

Now, McPherson is ready to spread her wings and take on her first coaching gig, one that will occur at Western Carolina.

Kayla McPherson hired by Western Carolina as an assistant coach

As announced by the Western Carolina women's basketball program, McPherson has been hired as an assistant coach to join head coach Jonathan Tsipis' staff.

It's safe to say that Tar Heel fans expected McPherson to jump right into coaching at some point following her time in Chapel Hill. There's no doubt that McPherson has the makings of being a rising star in the coaching industry, as you could definitely envision her becoming a head coach at some point in the near future.

For now, McPherson will bring her leadership qualities and passion for the sport of basketball to Western Carolina, a program that is thrilled to have her on board.

"We are thrilled to welcome Kayla McPherson to our women's basketball staff as an assistant coach," said Tsipis. "Kayla stood out in the interview process with her passion for the game, ability to connect with the players, and teaching skills. She was a tremendous player at North Carolina, who learned through injury how to impact the team from the sidelines.  Every person I spoke to in the process talked about her ability to impact her teammates.  As a program, we look forward to Kayla's impact on and off the court."

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McPherson is the pure definition of how one should handle adversity. Even though she dealt with some brutal injuries, the former Tar Heel never gave up hope that she could one day return to the floor, giving her full effort daily whether she was able to make an impact on the court or not. It's evident how much her teammates at North Carolina love and respect her, as they are first-hand witnesses to the work she puts in and the knowledge of the game that she possesses.

Not many student-athletes can say they've made a bigger impact on their respective university than Kayla McPherson, especially given how most of her career was hampered by injuries. It takes a truly special individual to be able to battle adversity the way she has, and it's very safe to say that it is going to pay off in the long run as she begins this new coaching venture.

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