Duke University recently named Kara Lawson as their fifth women’s basketball head coach. The former WNBA player who is currently in Orlando where she serves as an assistant coach of Boston Celtics expressed her happiness after signing with the school. In 2019, she became the first female coach in the Celtics’ 73-year history.
The former University of Tennessee guard and WNBA Champion released a statement after coming to an agreement and wrote:
“What an incredible moment that is still pretty surreal for me. This is a dream come true for me. I’ve wanted to be a coach since I was a kid. I took a circuitous route, but I’m here now. I’m so excited about the opportunity to shape young women, grow their games and their personalities through their collegiate career.”
Kara will replace the former coach Joanne P. McCallie who stepped down from his position in early July. There were 20 candidates for the position but Lara was selected among them by a search firm, Collegiate Sports Associates.
OFFICIAL.
Welcome to Duke, Kara Lawson! pic.twitter.com/0IIV5WprPD
— Duke Women’s Basketball (@DukeWBB) July 11, 2020
The school’s deputy director of athletics, Nina King also talked to the media and said:
"Our main priority was to work swiftly, and as efficiently as we could, given the nature of the times we’re experiencing. From there, we had conversations with six and then invited to for finalist interviews before everything our selection on Saturday.”
“Kara Lawson is the perfect fit for Duke University, Duke athletics and, more specifically, Duke women’s basketball. She has an incredibly high basketball IQ. She knows the game, having played it and coached it at the highest levels. She’s a teacher, a mentor leader and a champion, and I have no doubt she’ll have a measurable impact on past, present, and future Blue Devils.”
King added.
During her playing career, Lawson played in the WNBA for 13 years and also led Sacramento Monarchs to a championship in 2005. After her retirement, she also worked as a collegiate studio analyst.
