RIC Names New Women’s Hoop Coach
Ken Bell
Rhode Island College release…
Providence,
RI—KARA WILLIAMSON NAMED HEAD WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH AT RHODE ISLAND COLLEGE
Rhode Island College has named Kara Williamson as its new head
women's basketball coach. She replaces Marcus Reilly who stepped down in
June after four years at the helm.
“I am honored to have
been selected as the head women's basketball coach at Rhode Island
College,” Williamson said. “I am proud to have the opportunity to
represent this institution and athletic department. I am extremely
excited to lead such a motivated group of student-athletes. I am looking
forward to the start of the school year and working hard to build on
the recent successes of the women's basketball program on and off the
court.”
Williamson spent the past three seasons (2009-12)
as an assistant coach at Southern New Hampshire University. In 2011-12,
SNHU won its most games (19) since 1989-90 as the Penmen went
19-10. SNHU reached the Northeast-10 quarterfinals in each of the past
two seasons and the Penmen had a total of five NE-10 All-Conference
selections.
Williamson arrived at SNHU after serving as
an assistant coach for two seasons at American International College in
Springfield, Mass., a member of the Northeast-10 along with SNHU. While
there, she helped lead the Yellow Jackets to a two-year record of
38-26. In 2008-09, AIC posted a 21-13 record, reached the second round
of the NCAA Division II Tournament and also reached the Northeast-10
semifinals.
SNHU Head Coach Karen Pinkos said, “Kara has
helped build our program to where it is today. The success we had last
season was directly impacted by Kara's hard work and dedication. She is a
relentless worker and spent a great amount of time with player
development. Rhode Island College is lucky to get such a great quality
person in a coach. There is no doubt in my mind Kara will become a
successful head coach and her players will love playing for her. She is
very passionate about the game and has a gift for helping young
student-athletes.”
Williamson spent the 2005-06 and
2006-07 seasons as an assistant coach at Western New England University
in Springfield. Over her two seasons on the WNEU staff, the Golden Bears
posted a combined 37-22 record, including a 21-7 mark and a semifinal
appearance in the ECAC Division III New England Championship in 2005-06.
The 21 victories established a school record.
Before
entering the coaching ranks, Williamson was a four-year member of the
women's basketball team at Assumption College in Worcester,
Massachusetts. A Dean's List student at Assumption, Williamson received
the Most Improved Player award as a freshman and the Unsung Hero award
as a senior for the Greyhounds. She earned her bachelor's degree in
management from Assumption in 2005 and completed her master's in sport
management at Springfield College in 2007.
A Ludlow
(Mass.) High School graduate, Williamson was the Most Valuable Player
and a team captain as a senior at LHS. She was a First Team All-Western
Mass. selection and was also selected to the All-Massachusetts
Scholastic Team. She was inducted into the Ludlow High School Sports
Hall of Fame in 2011.
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