Barbara Farris

Barbara Farris (born September 10, 1976) is an American basketball coach and former professional and collegiate player. A ten-year veteran of the WNBA, she won a league championship in 2003 and later built a championship-winning coaching career spanning the high school, collegiate, and professional levels.

Farris is a member of multiple halls of fame, including the New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame and the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame, recognizing her impact as both a player and coach.

Coaching Career

High School Coaching Farris began her coaching career in Louisiana and rose to prominence as head coach at John Curtis Christian School. Over a 10-year span, she complied a 291-64 record and led the Lady Patriots to five Louisiana state championships, including four consecutive titles from 2017 to 2020, and nine district championships. She oversaw academics, helping the team achieve the highest team GPA in program history.

Texas State University (2025)

In April 2025, Farris joined the Texas State Bobcats as an assistant coach under head coach Zenarae Antoine, and helped the team improve total scoring, field goal percentage, rebounding, and steals while doubling the Bobcats number of blocks from the year before. Early Life and High School Career Farris was born in Harvey, Louisiana, and attended St. Martin's Episcopal School in Metairie. She was a standout multi-sport athlete, helping lead the school to back-to-back state basketball championships in 1993 and 1994, including an undefeated 36-0 season in 1993, garnering her earlyy recognition as a two-time all-Louisiana team member

She also contributed two state championships in track and field and earned All-State honors in basketball.

College Career Farris played collegiate basketball at Tulane University from 1994 to 1998 under head coach Lisa Stockton. She became one of the most accomplished players in program history, earning all-conference honors in each of her four seasons, including first-team selections in 1995 (Metro Conference) and 1997 (Conference USA),

During her tenure, Tulane achieved significant milestones, including:

The program's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1995

Her career highlights include:

WNBA Championship in 2003 with the Detroit Shock 280 games played 1,094 points and 777 rebounds and Asia from 2000 to 2008.

Career statistics WNBA

Regular season

Playoffs

College Source

Honors and Recognition Farris has been inducted into multiple halls of fames, including:

Tulane Athletics Hall of Fame (2004) St. Martin's Episcopal School Hall of Fame (2011; team induction 2015) Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame (2017) Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame (2024; 2025)

Legacy Farris is widely recognized for her success across all levels of basketball: as a championship-winning professional player, record-setting collegiate athlete, and a highly successful, championship-winning coach. Her contributions have been particularly significant in Louisiana, where she has influenced elite player development and the growth of girl's basketball.