UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State and Vice President for Athletics Sandy Barbour formally introduced Carolyn Kieger as head women's basketball coach in front of a sea of supporters, alumni, campus community members and fans Friday afternoon at a welcome celebration and introductory press conference inside the Bryce Jordan Center Basketball Practice Facility.
"As a competitor, you coach to impact lives," said Kieger. "You coach to win national championships. What attracted me to Penn State was the unmatched commitment from the university to develop better people and better student-athletes. The commitment that Sandy Barbour and Penn State have made to building an elite women's basketball program is second-to-none. I am truly honored and it is my privilege to stand in front of you today as part of that Lady Lion tradition."
Kieger, a 2019 Naismith Women's Coach of the Year Award semifinalist, comes to Penn State after guiding Marquette University to the top of the Big East Conference and three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances as the Golden Eagles' head coach.
"Carolyn Kieger stood out because of her combination of proven success as a head coach, her track record in student-athlete development, her insistence on holistic success for her students, and her passion for engaging and igniting a community to rally around students in a program," Barbour said.
"She's a winner," Barbour continued. "She's a competitor in the truest sense of the word. And now, she is a Penn Stater. Penn State nation, you are all in for a real treat. We are in for incredible success ahead."
Kieger, a 2006 Marquette graduate, comes to Happy Valley after five years at the helm of her alma mater, posting a 99-64 overall record. During the past three seasons, Kieger led the Golden Eagles to sparkling 76-26 mark (43-11 in Big East), which included a pair of Big East regular-season championships and a Big East Tournament Championship. Marquette made three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time in 20 years, advancing to the round of 32 the past two seasons.
Widely regarded as one of the nation's brightest and rising coaching stars, Kieger's first Marquette team in 2014-15 won nine games. She proceeded to lead the Golden Eagles to 14, 25, 24 and a program-record 27 victories over the next four seasons.
With a proven track record of success under her belt, Kieger spoke on what she plans for the future of the Lady Lions.
"Defensively, we will be physical and we will impose our will on our opponents," Kieger said. "We will be the toughest team in the country and send a message every night that when you step on our floor you can expect the toughest team you will find.
"Offensively, we are going to push tempo," Kieger continued. "We want to score as many points as possible in the first 10 seconds. We want to turn the Bryce Jordan Center into a track meet and run people off the floor. We will be unselfish and we will be purposeful with our actions. We will become the standard of exciting, fast-paced, position-less basketball."