July 6, 2005
NORFOLK, Va. -- Old Dominion head women's basketball coach Wendy Larry has announced the hiring of Karen Barefoot to join her staff as the Lady Monarchs prepare for defend their 14 straight Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) titles in 2005-06.
"I am very excited to come back home and work with one of the best and most respected coaches in the country," said Barefoot. "I love ODU. It was a dream job and the perfect situation for where I am in my coaching career."
Barefoot is no stranger to the Hampton Roads area having been an All-American standout at Christopher Newport in Newport News and the head coach of the national championship team at the Apprentice School in 2001. Barefoot comes to Old Dominion having served as the head coach at Division II Lenoir-Rhyne for the last four seasons.
While at the helm of the Bears program, she compiled a 70-44 record capturing the school's first ever South Atlantic Conference Tournament Title and NCAA Division II playoff berth in 2003 and the schools' first ever regular season championship in 2004. The 2004 SAC Co-Coach of the Year, Barefoot coached Lenior-Rhyne's first ever NCAA First Team All-American, South Atlantic Player of theYear, and SAC Tournament Most Valuable Player. Additionally, under her guidance the Bears had four student-athletes earn All-SAC honors and 13 student-athletes named to the SAC Commissioner's honor roll.
Prior to her stint at Lenior-Rhyne, Barefoot spent six winning seasons at the Apprentice School after helping to initiate and develop the first-ever female athletic program in the 75-year history of the school. A two-time NSCAA National Coach of the Year (1999 & 2001), she compiled a 102-43 mark and captured the 2001 NSCAA National Championship. Under Barefoot the Builders had seven NSCAA All-Americans and four Academic All-Americans.
As a former student-athlete at Christopher Newport, Barefoot still holds the recognition of being the only player in NCAA history, male or female, to score over 2,000 points and accumulate 1,000 assists. For four straight seasons she led the nation in assists and is CNU's all-time leader in scoring, assists, and steals. A three-time Kodak/WBCA All-American, she has been inducted into the CNU Athletic Hall of Fame and had her college jersey (No. 10) retired.
The Lady Monarchs wrapped up the 2004-05 season with a 22-9 overall record and danced on to their 14th straight and 22nd overall NCAA Tournament. The 2005-06 version of the Old Dominion women's basketball team will return four starters and 10 letterwinners. Additionally, they will welcome back Corrina Turner (Miami, Fla.) and Paula Muxiri (Luanda, Angola) from injuries along with transfer Tamara Ransburg (St. Louis, Mo.).