| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head Coach |
| Team | Missouri Western State |
| Conference | MIAA |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | April 22, 1980 Canyon, Texas |
| Playing career | |
| 1998–2000 | Seward County CC |
| 2000–2002 | Texas Tech |
| Position(s) | Point guard |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 2002–2004 | Valparaiso (asst.) |
| 2004–2006 | UMKC (asst.) |
| 2006–2012 | UMKC |
| 2012–2013 | Oklahoma State (assoc.) |
| 2013–2018 | Texas Tech |
| 2019–present | Missouri Western State |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 182–209 (.465) |
Candace Elizabeth Whitaker (née White; born April 22, 1980) is an American college basketball coach who is currently women's basketball head coach at Missouri Western. Previously, Whitaker was head coach at UMKC and Texas Tech. After playing college basketball at Texas Tech, Whitaker returned to her alma mater to fill the position after former coach Kristy Curry left to coach at Alabama.[1][2] In April 2019, it was announced that Whitaker was selected as the new head women's basketball coach at Missouri Western State University.[3]
In the middle of the 2006-07 season, Whitaker was named the eighth coach in Kansas City Roos' history, replacing Bo Overton. She coached her first game in the Roos' conference opener, a 51-to-48 victory over Chicago State. She coached at Kansas City until the end of the 2011-12 year, compiling an overall record of 41-65. In her time at Kansas City, Whitaker led the Roos to two separate fourth-place Summit League finishes, in 2009-10 and 2011-12.[4]
Following Kristy Curry's departure for Alabama on May 11, 2013, Whitaker was named the new head coach at Texas Tech University on May 20, 2013.[5] On January 1, 2018, Texas Tech fired Whitaker.[6][7]
In April 2019, it was announced that Whitaker was selected as the new head women's basketball coach at Missouri Western State University.[3]
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UMKC Kangaroos (Mid-Continent Conference/Summit League) (2006–2012) | |||||||||
| 2006–07 | UMKC* | 8–11** | 5–8** | T-5th | |||||
| 2007–08 | UMKC | 7–20** | 0–15** | 9th | |||||
| 2008–09 | UMKC | 11–18** | 6–11** | T-6th | |||||
| 2009–10 | UMKC | 16–16 | 12–6 | 5th | WBI First Round | ||||
| 2010–11 | UMKC | 14–16 | 9–9 | 6th | |||||
| 2011–12 | UMKC | 22–12 | 11–7 | 3rd | WNIT First Round | ||||
| UMKC: | 77–93 (.453)** | 43–56 (.434)** | |||||||
| Texas Tech Lady Raiders (Big 12 Conference) (2013–2018) | |||||||||
| 2013–14 | Texas Tech | 6–24 | 0–18 | 10th | |||||
| 2014–15 | Texas Tech | 15–16 | 5–13 | 10th | |||||
| 2015–16 | Texas Tech | 13–18 | 3–15 | 9th | |||||
| 2016–17 | Texas Tech | 14–17 | 5–13 | 8th | |||||
| 2017–18 | Texas Tech | 6–7 | 0–2 | 10th | |||||
| Texas Tech: | 54–82 (.397) | 13–61 (.176) | |||||||
| Missouri Western Griffons (Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association) (2019–present) | |||||||||
| 2019–20 | Missouri Western | 21–8 | 13–6 | 4th | Tournament canceled due to COVID-19 | ||||
| 2020–21 | Missouri Western | 6–16 | 6–16 | T-10th | |||||
| 2021–22 | Missouri Western | 24–10 | 14–8 | 5th | NCAA Division II Elite Eight | ||||
| Missouri Western: | 51–34 (.600) | 33–30 (.524) | |||||||
| Total: | 182–209 (.465) | ||||||||
|
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
| |||||||||
* Whitaker became interim head coach in December 2006 following the resignation of Bo Overton.[8]
** Reflects 6 games (including 5 conference games) from 2007 to 2009 vacated due to league sanctions.[9]
Whitaker married her husband Matt Whitaker in April 2007. They have three sons: Westin, William, and Callahan.