Top assistant Julie Hairgrove enters her eighth season with the Phoenix Mercury. Prior to joining the WNBA, she spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Loyola Marymount University.

As a college athlete, Hairgrove was a key contributor as a four-year starter at the University of Arizona, helping lead the Wildcats to the NCAA tournament in each of her four seasons. Hairgrove also served as team captain for three seasons.

In addition to playing basketball, Hairgrove worked as an assistant coach at Lute Olson’s basketball camps and served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Board. She completed her bachelor’s degree in social and behavioral sciences in communication and minored in business.

Hairgrove is the granddaughter of NCAA Hall of Famer and former University of Arizona coach Lute Olson. She and her husband Mike are the proud parents of three daughters, Madison (6), Hailey (4) and Grace (2).