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A familiar face to followers of the Western Washington University women’s basketball team will make regular appearances in the Blaine High School gym this winter.

Former Western guard Gracie Castaneda has been hired as the new head coach of the Blaine girls basketball program.

At Western, Castaneda spent six years in the program and was a key senior this past season during the Vikings’ incredible postseason run that ended in a loss in the Division II national title game.

Castaneda, originally from Arlington, will take over a Borderites squad that posted a 9-10 record last season and made it to the second round of the district tournament before being knocked out.

The head coaching job at Blaine wasn’t on Castaneda’s radar until Western women’s basketball head coach Carmen Dolfo reached out to her.

“I’m excited to get to know the girls and build relationships with them,” Castaneda said. “From a coaching standpoint, I’m excited to figure out what their strengths are, what we can work on and how I can do that and bring out the best in all of them individually and together as a team. That’s something I’m really looking forward to learning how to do. I’m excited to be challenged in that way.”