Kari Pickens

Head Women’s Basketball Coach
Ashland University

Experience

2018 – Present: Head Coach, Ashland University

2013 – 2018: Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Ashland University

2014: Professional Player, Australia

2011 – 2013: Player, Ashland University

2009 – 2011: Player, University of Dayton

Education

2013: Ashland University, Bachelors, Middle Childhood Education

Personal

Hometown: Coshocton, OH

Maiden Name: Daugherty

Family: Brad (Husband) & Elijah, Chloe, Julia (Children)

Career Highlights

Career Record
173-17 (.911)

National Coach of the Year (1)
2022-23

National Championships (1)
2022-23 Division II

30+ Win Seasons (3)
2023-24, 2022-23, 2019-20

20+ Win Seasons (5)
2023-24, 2022-23, 2021-22, 2019-20, 2018-19

Winning Seasons (6)
2023-24, 2022-23, 2021-22, 2020-21, 2019-20, 2018-19

Conference Coach of the Year (3)
2023-24, 2021-22 G-MAC & 2019-20 GLIAC

Conference Regular Season Championships (4)
2023-24, 2022-23, 2021-22 G-MAC & 2019-20 GLIAC

Conference Tournament Championships (5)
2023-24, 2022-23, 2021-22 G-MAC & 2019-20, 2018-19 GLIAC

NCAA Tournament Berths (6)
2023-24, 2022-23, 2021-22, 2020-21, 2019-20, 2018-19

2022-23 WBCA NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year

Led Ashland to the 2022-23 NCAA Division II National Championship

The second all-time winningest women’s basketball coach (winning percentage) in NCAA history, minimum 150 games (173-17 (.911))

The first Head Coach in NCAA Division II history to have ever been named both WBCA National Coach of the Year and WBCA National Player of the Year

Only the second Head Coach in NCAA history to have ever won an NCAA National Championship as a student-athlete, Assistant Coach, and Head Coach

The three-time conference Coach of the Year, has led Ashland to four conference (G-MAC & GLIAC) regular season championships, five conference (G-MAC & GLIAC) tournament championships, and six consecutive NCAA Tournament berths

Ashland’s scoring offense finished nationally ranked 3rd in 2023-24, 4th in 2022-23, 15th in 2021-22, 3rd in 2019-20, and 2nd in 2018-19

Ashland’s scoring defense finished nationally ranked 22nd in 2023-24

Ashland ranked 1st nationally in 2023-24, 4th in 2022-23, 6th in 2021-22, 2nd in 2019-20 in the WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll

As Ashland’s Head Coach, has recruited and coached 31 all-conference (G-MAC & GLIAC) team selections, as well as two G-MAC Players of the Year and one Freshman of the Year

From 2013 to 2018, helped lead Ashland to five winning seasons, four 25+ win seasons, three GLIAC Regular Season Championships, three GLIAC Tournament Championships, and four NCAA Tournament berths (2016-17 NCAA Division II National Championship)

A 2024 inductee into the Ashland University Athletics Hall of Fame and two-time GLIAC Player of the Year, led Ashland to two GLIAC Regular Season Championships, two GLIAC Tournament Championships, and two NCAA Tournament berths (2012-13 NCAA Division II National Championship)

In only two seasons, graduated from Ashland as the program’s fourth all-time leading scorer (1,414 career points) and 2nd all-time leading rebounder (903 career rebounds)

A 2009-10 Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team selection, helped lead Dayton to two NCAA Tournament berths

News & Media

Head Coach Record