Who is Hana Haden? New Memphis women's basketball coach is 'all business'

Hana Haden found her calling early. The new Memphis women’s basketball coach decided to make it her career in 2011, when she was a sophomore at Mineral Area College. That’s where she played for Gary Koch, a longtime high school and junior college coach in Missouri who retired with more than 600 wins.

Haden said she watched as Koch – then in his 60s – poured his heart and soul into the team. He washed the uniforms, swept the floors, cleaned the basketballs, drove the team bus, planned the meals, and somehow found time to be the coach. She was inspired.

So much so that when Haden was matched up against her mentor in what was the last game of Koch’s decorated career, she sent him into retirement with a loss. On March 1, 2019, in Haden’s first season as coach at Moberly Area College, the Greyhounds upset heavily favored Mineral Area, 59-58, in the region tournament semifinals. “That’s one you cry in your beer, literally,” Koch said with a laugh.

“But that’s who she is. Hana is all business. She’s intense, and I just love it.