Ashland University head women's basketball coach
Kari Pickens has moved on as a nominee for the NCAA Division II Gold Award, as part of the celebration of the 50
th anniversary of the division.
As announced by the NCAA on Monday (Nov. 13) afternoon, Pickens is the Great Midwest Athletic Conference's female nominee for the Gold Award, which will be presented to one female and one male who have made a positive impact on the division.
Pickens was announced as the Ashland athletic department's female nominee for the Gold Award on Sept. 25.
What follows are the career highlights for Pickens, one of the top representatives Division II has had in its first half-century and one of 45 Gold Award finalists:
Kari Pickens Gold Award resume
NCAA DIVISION II CAREER – Ashland women's basketball player (2011-12 and 2012-13), Ashland women's basketball assistant coach/associate head coach (2013-14 to 2017-18), Ashland women's basketball head coach (2018-19 to current).
NOTABLES
- Is the only woman in NCAA Division II women's basketball to win national titles as a player (2013), assistant coach (2017) and head coach (2023).
- Is the first NCAA Division II women's basketball coach to be named Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) national Coach of the Year (2022-23) and national Player of the Year (2011-12 and 2012-13).
- Is the first NCAA women's basketball coach at any level to be named WBCA national Coach of the Year (2022-23) and national Assistant Coach of the Year (2016-17).
- Head coaching record of 144-15 (.906) – winning percentage is second-best in NCAA women's basketball history at all levels, minimum of 150 games coached.
NCAA RECORDS
- Most consecutive games with a double-double in NCAA Division II women's basketball history (34).
- Most field goals in an NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament (56, 2012).
- Most rebounds in an NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament (95, 2012).
PLAYING CAREER
- Played only two seasons at NCAA Division II level, recording 1,414 career points (still 12th on AU's all-time scoring list) and 903 rebounds (still fourth on AU's all-time rebounding list).
- Led NCAA Division II in rebounds per game (14.1) in 2011-12.
- 2013 NCAA Division II women's basketball championship Most Outstanding Player/all-tournament team.
- 2012 NCAA Division II women's basketball championship all-tournament team.
- 2011-12 and 2012-13 WBCA National Player of the Year.
- 2012-13 Daktronics National Player of the Year.
- 2011-12 and 2012-13 WBCA and Daktronics All-American (all first team).
- 2011-12 and 2012-13 Midwest Regional tournament Most Outstanding Player/all-tournament team.
- 2011-12 and 2012-13 Daktronics Midwest Region Player of the Year/first team.
- 2011-12 and 2012-13 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year/first team/all-defensive team.
- 2011-12 and 2012-13 GLIAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player/all-tournament team.
ACADEMIC HONORS
- 2012-13 Capital One Female Student-Athlete Academic All-American of the Year.
- 2011-12 and 2012-13 Honda Sports Award NCAA Division II Female Athlete of the Year.
- 2012-13 Capital One Academic All-America of the Year (women's basketball).
- 2012-13 Capital One Academic All-America (first team).
- 2012-13 Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
- 2012-13 Capital One Academic All-District.
- 2012-13 GLIAC All-Academic Excellence.
COACHING HONORS
- 2022-23 WBCA NCAA Division II national Coach of the Year
- 2021-22 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Coach of the Year
- 2019-20 GLIAC Coach of the Year
- 2016-17 WBCA NCAA Division II national Assistant Coach of the Year
- 2015-16 WBCA Thirty Under 30 Award
The NCAA Division II Management Council Identity Subcommittee will review the finalists and select the two overall winners, who will be recognized at the 2024 NCAA Convention in January in Phoenix, Ariz.
