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 Division II National Coach of the Year

Led Ashland to the 2022-23 Division II National Championship

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

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 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