Wednesday, April 21, 2010

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (April 21, 2010) - On Tuesday night the Lady Buccaneer women's basketball team held its end of the year banquet, and ETSU Director of Athletics Dave Mullins announced head coach Karen Kemp received a three-year contract extension which lasts through the 2014-15 season.

Kemp, who directed ETSU to a program-best 23 wins in 2009-10, has guided the Lady Bucs to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances and two Atlantic Sun regular season crowns in the last three years.

"We are pleased that coach Kemp has agreed to remain in place as the head coach of the Lady Bucs," said Senior Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administration Barbie Breedlove. "Under her guidance we have experienced an incredible amount of success by winning three straight conference championships and advancing to the NCAA Tournament three times. Coach Kemp was recruited by other major programs, but she chose to stay at ETSU and build on her successes. We are very glad she did."

Kemp is the all-time winningest coach at ETSU, and has averaged 21 wins per year since the start of the 2006-07 campaign. Overall, the 2008 A-Sun Coach of the Year has won 237 games in her 16 seasons at the helm with the Lady Bucs, while posting a mark of 76-18 (.809) against conference foes in the last five seasons.

"This is the place where I want to end my career and continue on with the success we have built," added Kemp, who has guided ETSU to all five of its postseason appearances. "I want to thank Dr. Stanton, Dr. Bishop, Dave, Barbie, and the ETSU community for giving me the support over the years and having faith in me as a coach."

For more information on Lady Buccaneer basketball, visit www.ETSUBucs.com.