Kathleen Payne has joined Sage's women's basketball coaching staff for the 2019-2020 season as an assistant coach for Allison Coleman and the Gator women’s basketball team.

Allison Coleman said of her selection, “I am very excited to welcome KP to our staff.” She added, “KP had a great playing career as a Division III student-athlete and will be able use her knowledge and skill set to jump in right away to enhance our program here at Sage.”

Payne, a graduate of Plattsburgh State in May 2014 with a degree in criminal justice, is the Cardinals' all-time leading scorer and rebounder, having produced 1,722 points and 759 rebounds in her career. Her rise as a player at Plattsburgh was mirrored by the Cardinals, as the team went from 8-17 her freshman season to 23-6 in her senior campaign. Payne was named an ABCA All-American Honorable Mention and d3hoops.com All-American Honorable Mention after averaging 19.6 points (32nd in the nation), 7.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. A three-time All-SUNYAC First-Team selection, Payne was named the SUNYAC Player of the Year in 2013-14 and the SUNYAC Rookie of the Year in 2010-11. The Goshen, NY native had career averages of 16.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game over the course of her four-year career at Plattsburgh State.

She spent a season on the women’s basketball coaching staff at Clarkson University in 2014-2015, but more recently served in the U.S. Air Force for the past four years as a munitions Controller and was honorably discharged in June, 2019.