Eastern Connecticut State University

“I am deeply honored to be appointed as the head women’s basketball coach at Eastern Connecticut State University,” offered King at the time of her appointment. “Eastern has a distinguished tradition in both athletics and academics, and I am committed to continuing the legacy established by coach Bierly and the exceptional young women who wore the jersey over the past 31 years.”

After playing collegiately at the Division III level as a point guard at the University of Southern Maine – like Eastern, a member of the Little East Conference – King went on to coach at the Division III level in all but two seasons of her 26-year career prior to her appointment at Eastern.

As a head coach at Division III institutions Kean University and Washington & Lee University, King won 295 games and lost 268 in 22 seasons.

At Kean – a member of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) – King was 172-152 in 13 seasons and led the Cougars to nine NJAC tournaments and one NJAC regular-season title. At one point over four straight non-Covid seasons, Kean compiled a won-loss record of 67-37. Five players earned All-America recognition and 20 were named all-region under King.

In King’s second season at Kean in 2013/14, the Cougars turned around a 5-18 campaign to win 18 of 30 games and capture the ECAC Metro Region championship by winning three tournament games by an average of 16 points.

At Washington & Lee, King was 123-116 over nine seasons, leaving the program as the winningest coach in program history. Three of her players were named to all-region teams. In her seventh season with the Generals in 2009/10, King led the program to its first Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) championship and first NCAA tournament berth and a final record of 18-10. The Generals followed it up the next year with a record 19 wins (against eight losses) and a berth in the ODAC semifinals.

Prior to being named W&L’s fourth head coach, King spent two seasons as assistant coach at Division II Bloomsburg University in her first college coaching appointment following two seasons as a graduate assistant at NJAC institution The College of New Jersey, where the Lions posted consecutive 20-win seasons and reached the NCAA Elite Eight once

As a player at Southern Maine, King helped the Huskies to three Little East championships and as many berths in the NCAA Sweet 16 and, as a fifth-year senior, to the 1998 national championship game, the program averaging 25 wins a season in that span. The two-time team captain, who still ranks second all-time at USM in career assists, was named national Comeback Player-of-the-Year in 1997 after overcoming a second serious knee injury.

King readily admits that she makes use of the transfer portal, but that her emphasis will be upon attracting players to the program who are committed for the long haul. “You win with high-character student-athletes who have each other’s backs and refuse to lose. You create that culture with fourth and fifth-year players who understand the work, sacrifice, resiliency and teamwork needed for success. The transfer portal can complement the foundation, but it is important to have players who dedicate themselves to Eastern Basketball, our greatest aspirations, and something bigger than themselves.”