NORFOLK, Va. - Old Dominion University athletic director Dr. Wood Selig announced today that women’s basketball coach Karen Barefoot has received a new five-year contract that extends through the 2017-18 season.
“Karen has quickly illustrated in her first two years as our head women’s basketball coach that she possesses the drive, professional contacts, teaching ability, and knowledge to direct our program to a level of conference and national prominence. This is a natural second contract for Karen who reflects enhanced performance incentives while also restoring her to an employment term of five years as we transition to C-USA,” says Selig.
“We feel this new contract illustrates to Lady Monarch fans and future women’s basketball student athletes the commitment of both ODU and Coach Barefoot to each other as we continue our pursuit of national relevance for our program,” Selig adds.
Barefoot completed her second year at the helm of the Lady Monarch program, leading the team to a 9-3 start in non-conference action in 2012-13, posting a 19-12 record and earning a berth in the National Women’s Invitation Tournament. Lady Monarch center Shae Kelley was named to the CAA All Conference (the only underclassman named to the team) and All Defensive squads, while rising sophomore Galaisha Goodhope was named to the All-Rookie team. Barefoot has also made enormous strides in the classroom with the squad earning a 2.94 GPA this past spring, and is well known for her national recruiting efforts and commitments.
“The support the school has demonstrated for me provides me the confidence to continue to develop and build a winning program, as well as restore the championship tradition we all love and enjoy. This confidence also gives me a sense of pride and ownership of the team and program,” Barefoot remarks.
Barefoot, who hails from Newport News, Va. (Menchville High School) and is a Christopher Newport graduate has a career head coaching record of 240-176, resulting in 12 winning seasons. Previous to her arrival at ODU in 2011 she was the head coach for three seasons at Elon University, and also held the head coaching position at Division II Lenoir Rhyne University and at the Apprentice School, where she earned National Coach of the Year honors after starting that program from the ground floor and leading it to a national title. She served as an assistant coach on the Lady Monarch staff from 2005-2008. Helping the team to their second most wins in school history and a NCAA sweet Sixteen appearance. Barefoot has accomplished many firsts for the programs she has led, as she has mastered the art of resurrecting them all into winning programs. As a Hall of Fame player at CNU, Barefoot was the first player, male or female, to score 2000 points and 1000 assists.
“The University has entrusted me to not only build the program, but to influence and shape my players’ lives, both on and off the court. I am very appreciative to President John Broderick and athletic director Dr. Wood Selig. This is a very exciting time to be at Old Dominion University and I am right where I want to be,” adds Barefoot.