Jeanette Pohlen returns to Stanford as coaching intern

Over the weekend, Stanford women’s basketball announced that former Cardinal standout Jeanette Pohlen (2007-11) is back with the program as a coaching intern. Pohlen averaged 9.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game over her four years at Stanford as a guard. During her senior year, she averaged 14.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game on 43.6% shooting from the field, 41.7% shooting from 3-point range, and 89.3% shooting from the foul line. All but her free throw percentage and blocks per game in her senior season were career highs. Pohlen was also an ironwoman during her time at Stanford, playing in 150 games in her four years, averaging out to 37.5 games played per season.

In addition to individual success, Pohlen experienced a lot of team success as well during her time in a Cardinal uniform. Stanford reached the Final Four in all four seasons she played (2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011) and reached the national championship game twice, losing to Tennessee in 2008 and Connecticut in 2010.

Pohlen also brings USA Basketball and WNBA experience to The Farm. She was on the USA Basketball team that competed at the 2009 World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia that took home a gold medal. She also played six years in the WNBA, all with the Indiana Fever, who drafted her with the 9th overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft. Her best season was the 2012 season in which the Fever won the WNBA championship: She averaged a career high 4.4 points per game in a career-high 16.9 minutes per game, playing in 34 games, which ties her career-high total from her rookie season.

As Stanford looks to defend their national title, adding Pohlen is a definite positive. She knows what Stanford is all about, she’s got experience making deep tournament runs, and she also should be able to help the perimeter players develop more confidence in their 3-point and foul shooting.