Original article (Kelly Komara and Tasha Taylor Join #MUWBB as Assistant Coaches) on the Marquette University’s athletic website gomarquette.com.

The Marquette University women’s basketball program has announced the hiring of Kelly Komara and Tasha Taylor as assistant coaches. Komara comes to MU after spending the past five seasons at Vanderbilt University as an associate head coach (2018-21) and assistant coach (2016-18). Taylor spent the past eight seasons as an assistant coach at Elon University. They join coach Duffy and assistant coach Justine Raterman to complete MU’s coaching staff.

“Our Marquette family continues to grow with the exciting additions of Kelly Komara and Tasha Taylor,” Duffy said. “They will be incredible assets to our program because of their work ethic, experience and winning mentality. Both coaches have been in these players shoes and know what it takes to be successful at a high level, and I have so much respect for who they are as leaders, mentors and teachers. Kelly and Tasha will continue to raise the bar here at Marquette on the national scene.”

Komara has proven herself to be an exceptional recruiter and developer of talent. From 2017-19, she helped sign three consecutive recruiting classes that ranked in the top-20 nationally. In her five years at Vandy, she recruited and coached seven SEC All-Conference selections, notably helping Chelsie Hall to a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team in 2017-18. In 2019-20, Jordyn Cambridge led the league in steals and earned SEC All-Defensive team honors.

A specialist in guard play and development, in 2019-20 Komara oversaw the first Commodore duo to post more than 100 assists apiece in nearly a decade. Hall led the team with 117 assists, while Cambridge became the first Vanderbilt player with 100+ assists (105) and 80+ steals (85) in a season in over two decades. Komara also served as the team’s defensive coordinator, director of non-conference scheduling, head of scouting and the liaison to the strength and conditioning coach.

“I am so excited to join the Marquette family,” Komara said. “From my first conversation with Coach Duffy, I knew we had shared values and goals. I’ve always admired her work ethic and passion for her players. I look forward to helping her further build the championship culture here at MU. My family and I cannot wait to embrace the Milwaukee community.”

Prior to her time in Nashville, Komara served two-year stints as an assistant coach at both Purdue (2014-16) and Albany (2012-14). She helped lead Purdue to a 20-12 (10-8 B1G) record in 2015-16 and an NCAA tournament berth. She coached four All-B1G honorees and brought in the ninth ranked recruiting class in 2015. In her two years at Albany, she helped the team to two NCAA tournament berths while achieving a combined 55-9 (32-1 America East) record. She recruited and developed 14 all-league selections, including two players of the year and a defensive player of the year.

Komara has also worked at Valparaiso, Auburn and Northwestern in a variety of roles. She played her college ball at Purdue, where she finished as Purdue’s all-time leader in single-season steals with 120 in 2002. She also ranked No. 12 on Purdue’s all-time scoring list (1,266 career points), No. 3 in career steals (297), No. 5 in career made threes (137), and No. 8 in career assists (402) at the time of her graduation.

“I’ll never forget watching Kelly as a player accomplish so much. She coaches the same way with incredible heart and passion for her players. Kelly’s experience and knowledge of the game will make an immediate impact on our program. It will be terrific to see her back home in the Midwest,” Duffy said.

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