University of Central Arkansas Women's Basketball

Tony Kemper was announced as the newest head coach of the Sugar Bears on March 10, 2023, after six seasons as the head coach of the Marshall women’s basketball team. While in Huntington, W.Va., Kemper compiled a 79-90 record, capping his tenure with a 17-14 showing in 2022-23. During his time at Marshall, he coached seven All-Conference USA players and earned berths in five postseason tournaments.   Joining Central Arkansas as head coach, this stint is not Kemper’s first in Conway, having been an assistant coach for both the men’s and women’s teams over a six-year span.   At UCA, Kemper helped the Sugar Bears to their first Division I conference title and three seasons of at least 21 wins. His tutelage of inside players helped gain two Southland Player of the Year honors and a Defensive Player of the Year. He also helped guide the team to a 2011 WBI Tournament and a 2012 WNIT appearance. Before joining the women’s staff, Kemper served as an assistant coach for the Central Arkansas men’s basketball program for four years. Two professional players emerged from UCA during those seasons -- the leading scorer in Portugal’s Proliga pro league in 2011, Nate Bowie, and professional center Durell Nevels. Prior to UCA, Kemper was an assistant coach at Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College - one of the nation’s most successful junior college programs. At Hutchinson, he oversaw day-to-day operations and directed the Blue Dragons’ strength and conditioning efforts while also serving as a mathematics and physical education instructor. The Logan, Kansas, native also held the head coaching spot at Quivira Heights High School in Bushton in 2003-04, guiding QHHS to a No. 1 seed to the regional tournament. His coaching career began in 2002-03 as an assistant at Hill City (Kansas) High School.   Kemper received a bachelor’s degree in finance from Fort Hays State University in 2001 and a BBA in Business Education in 2003. He also earned a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Fort Hays in 2008. Kemper and his wife Sandra, a professor at Marshall in the Communications Disorders Department, live in Huntington with sons Brayden and Landry and daughter Jolie.   You can follow Coach Kemper on twitter at @coachtonykemper.  

Coach Pacholke joined the Sugar Bears coaching staff in 2023 to serve as an assistant coach with the women's basketball program. During her playing days, she was a McDonald's All-American nominee after finishing as the all-time leader in steals and assists at Freedom High School, FL where she graduated in 2011. Her coach throughout her HS career was her mother, Laurie. Pacholke’s playing career continued at the next level at Newberry College until she graduated in 2015. The Tampa, Fla. native began her coaching career as a graduate assistant at the University of Florida, where she served in a multitude of roles and graduated with a Masters in Sports Management in 2017. From there, Coach Pacholke served as an assistant coach at the University of Evansville from 2017-2021. In 2021 she joined Coach McNelis’s staff at Southern Mississippi. During her time at Southern MS she helped coach and guide First Team All-Conference player Domonique Davis, while helping Lani Cornfield and Jacorriah Bracey enjoy career seasons as the Lady Eagles finished the season with a 21-10 record overall and a 13-5 Sun Belt Conference record leading to a Regular Season Title in 2023.  Coach Pacholke has also started her own business to honor her late younger sister, Neena Pacholke, called Stay4Me. The business focuses on bringing awareness to mental health in the women's basketball community. 

Hailey Estes joined the Sugar Bears staff in June 2023 and has helped lead the program to back to back ASUN Championship title games and two WNIT appearances. Estes, a Conway native graduated from Conway High School in 2016 and then attended Henderson State University from 2016-2020, earning a degree in Health and Human Performance while playing basketball for the Reddies. She then earned her masters degree in 2023 from Henderson State University in Sports Administration. In her playing career, Estes won a High School State Championship in 2014 with the Wampuscats. During her collegiate career, Estes became the All Time Leading rebounder in Henderson State WBB History, 2nd All time 3 pointers made, 5th all time in scoring and was a 2 time Academic All American. She was named 2nd Team All Conference in 2019. Then in 2020, she was named Female Athlete of the Year at HSU, 1st Team All Conference, and National D2 Player of the year nominee. Estes Coaching Career: Coached AAU and High School Soccer 2020-2021 Graduate Assistant at Henderson State University 2021-2023 Assistant Coach at UCA 2023-Present Family: Mom: Kathy Estes Dad: Mark Estes Brother: Hayden Estes Estes says, "All of my family is still in Conway. It is truly a blessing being back home".