March 2, 2009

KENNESAW, Ga. - The Kennesaw State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and Athletic Director Dr. Dave Waples are proud to announce the hiring of Karen Weatherington as head coach of the volleyball program at the University.

"I genuinely thank Dr. Waples, Scott Whitlock and the entire search committee for extending me the opportunity to be the new head coach," said Coach Weatherington. "I am humbled and thrilled for the opportunity to be a part of this program."

Weatherington comes to Kennesaw State after serving as Associate Head Coach at Butler University. She served in that capacity for four seasons and for six overall with the Bulldogs program. While at Butler, Weatherington worked as the program's recruiting coordinator off the court and with the training of the middle blockers on the court. Last season, the Bulldogs finished with 2.31 blocks per set, good for second in the Horizon League.

"[Butler] played here in the fall, and I picked up on just the uncharacteristic energy that exemplifies the growth of Kennesaw State," Coach Weatherington said. "During the interview process, Dr. Waples and Coach Whitlock kept mentioning the heart of the institution. That energy and that growth is something I really wanted to be a part of."

Coach Weatherington is looking forward to working with the KSU volleyball program. "I think [the team] is at a good growth stage," Coach Weatherington said. "There is a good core of players that are developing into good leaders. They have a strong desire to be competitive, and that is something that I am happy to help nurture."

KSU's new head coach is no stranger to the southeast. Prior to her time at Butler, Weatherington served as the top assistant coach at Clemson for two seasons. Prior to that, she was an assistant coach at Duke, in addition to serving as an assistant at Iowa State.

During her stay at Iowa State, Weatherington made an impact in junior volleyball by serving on the Iowa Heart Volleyball Association Board of Directors, revitalizing interest in volleyball within the community. She was the head coach and technical director of the Cyclone Cylect Volleyball Club and served as the instructional coach for the USA Volleyball Youth National Team Trials from 1997-2000.

During the spring of 2004, Weatherington was the head coach of the Pike Fire Inferno 18 Elite Volleyball team. She has also served as an instructor at the Midwest Volleyball Instructors Elite Volleyball Camp and as a presenter at the AVCA Convention Minority Coaches Clinic from 1997-2003.

Weatherington's coaching career began almost 15 years ago when she served as the top assistant coach at her alma mater, New Mexico State. A standout with the Aggies, Weatherington traveled to compete internationally in locales such as Russia, Finland and Sweden prior to her final season at NMSU.

A well-respected figure in the volleyball community, Coach Weatherington has been instrumental in the advancement of Division I women's volleyball. She became the Horizon League's representative on the America Volleyball Coaches Association's Assistant Coaches Committee in the fall of 2004. One year later, she began a three-year term as Assistant Coaches Chair on the AVCA National Board of Directors.

KSU's new head coach is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta public service sorority, the Black Coaches Associaton, USA Volleyball, and the Women's Sports Foundation. During her time at Butler, Weatherington served on the staff assembly employee affairs committee and implemented the Butler Campus Sweep beautification project.

Weatherington graduated from NMSU in 1998 with degrees in journalism and psychology and a minor in marketing. she completed her Masters of Science in Education with an emphasis in instructional technology at Butler in The College of Education's Masters in Effective Teaching and Leadership program (METL), earning a 4.00 GPA.

Most recently, Weatherington presented at conferences for the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Association and the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association. She also participated on the NCAA.NCLR Think Tank on Homophobia in Sport.

Weatherington and her husband, Eddie, have a daughter, Zoe.