Kentucky State University welcomes Serena King-Coleman as its new head women's basketball coach
Kentucky State University welcomes Serena King-Coleman as its new head women's basketball coach
June 28, 2010
Serena King-Coleman is headed home as the new head women's
basketball coach at Kentucky State University. Her first day is
July 1.
The Mt. Sterling, Ky., native left the Bluegrass State in 1993 on
a basketball scholarship to play for the University of North
Carolina-Greensboro. She worked as a student coach her fifth year
and graduated in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in English.
Then, she moved to Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, N.C.,
where she worked as an assistant basketball and head cross country
coach for three years.
King-Coleman
King-Coleman has worked at Division I schools such as High Point
University in High Point, N.C., as the recruiting coordinator and
Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, N.C., as the associate
head coach and the interim head coach. Then, she joined St.
Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Va., where she served six
years as the women’s basketball coach, senior women’s
administrator and the assistant athletics director.
“Coach King-Coleman is a good fit for Kentucky State
University, because her core values are in line with the mission of
the NCAA Division II, Southern Intercollegiate Athletics
Conference, KSU and our Department of Athletics,” said Dr.
Denisha Hendricks, athletics director. “Her experience as a
head coach and as an administrator will greatly benefit the
Thorobrette basketball program, and her wealth of knowledge will
prove to be invaluable.”
While King-Coleman enjoyed the responsibility of her past
positions, which developed her leadership skills, she is excited to
now focus solely on coaching.
KSU was attractive to King-Coleman for a variety of reason, but
its biggest draw was the location – close to Mt.
Sterling.
“My family is too excited,” King-Coleman said.
“I haven’t been home in such a long time, and I have
worked at schools that they have not been as familiar with. I look
forward to being home, coaching in front of my family and friends
and taking Kentucky State’s tradition of winning even
further.”
The Thorobrettes have had winning seasons for the last three
years. In 2008, the women were 19-12 and won an at-large berth to
the NCAA Division II tournament. In 2009, the team finished third
in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament and
ended its season 19-12. This year, the Thorobrettes went 17-11 and
made it to the semifinal round of the SIAC tournament.
King-Coleman plans to establish a strong coach-student-athlete
relationship. She described herself as a teaching coach and said
she will work her student-athletes hard in pre- and postseason
workouts, helping them to develop individual skills.
“But if the student-athletes know that you care, you will
get what you need from them,” King-Coleman said. “They
will go further than they think they can go.”
She also plans to recruit locally in order to build a strong fan
base, because she knows the importance of having family and friends
cheering in the stands.
She is married to Meade Coleman Jr. and has three daughters,
4-year-old Symphonie, 2-year-old Madison and 6-month-old Aria.
