Karen Weatherington was named head coach of the Kennesaw State University women's volleyball team in 2009. During that time, she has taken the program to new heights.
In Weatherington's three seasons at the helm, the Owls have compiled an overall record of 47-39 (.546), and established single-season school records for wins (17) and winning percentage (.607).
The high watermark under Weatherington came in 2010 when Kennesaw State posted a 17-11 overall record, including a 9-1 mark in the Atlantic Sun Conference, and made its second straight A-Sun Conference Tournament appearance. The Owls' performance led to Weatherington being named the A-Sun Conference Coach of the Year.
The year was highlighted by an eight-match winning streak, including seven straight in A-Sun Conference play. Sabrita Gulley became KSU’s first player named first team All-Atlantic Sun Conference. Alyssa Lang earned second team all-conference recognition, while Sara Metroka and Camille Pedraza were named to the A-Sun Conference All-Freshman team.
The 2009 campaign marked a series of firsts for the Owls during Weatherington's rookie year leading the program. Asjia Stokes became the first Owls volleyball player to earn A-Sun Conference Player of the Week honors. Gulley became KSU's first player to earn all-conference honors when she was selected to the second team.
Kennesaw State also registered its first winning season in program history after posting a 17-12 record. The Owls also recorded a school-record 11 conference wins and made their debut in the A-Sun Conference Tournament during their first year of eligibility.
The 2011 season saw Kennesaw State record a 13-16 overall record, including an 8-5 conference mark, and a third consecutive A-Sun Conference Tournament appearance. The year was highlighted by Lang earning first team all-conference honors, Justine Young being named second team all-conference and Sara Metroka's selection to the A-Sun Conference's all-academic team.
Weatherington came to Kennesaw State after six seasons at Butler, including the last four as associate head coach. During that time, the Bulldogs compiled an overall record of 90-86 (.511).
While at Butler, Weatherington worked as the program’s recruiting coordinator off the court and with the middle blockers on the court. In 2008, the Bulldogs finished with 2.31 blocks per set, good for second in the Horizon League.
Prior to her time at Butler, Weatherington was the top assistant coach at Clemson for two seasons. She joined the Tigers' coaching staff following coaching stints at Duke and Iowa State.
While at Iowa State, Weatherington made an impact off the court, serving on the Iowa Heart Volleyball Association Board of Directors, an organization responsible for revitalizing interest in volleyball within the community. She also was head coach and technical director of the Cyclone Cylect Volleyball Club and served as the instructional coach for the USA Volleyball Youth National Team Trials from 1997-2000. During the spring of 2004, Weatherington was the head coach of the Pike Fire Inferno 18 Elite Volleyball team.
Weatherington's involvement in volleyball also included serving as an instructor at the Midwest Volleyball Instructors Elite Volleyball Camp and as a presenter at the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Convention Minority Coaches Clinic from 1997-2003.
Weatherington’s coaching career began 16 years ago when she was the top assistant coach at her alma mater, New Mexico State. A standout with the Aggies, Weatherington competed internationally, traveling to Russia, Finland and Sweden prior to her final season at New Mexico State.
A well-respected figure in the volleyball community, Weatherington has been instrumental in the advancement of Division I women’s volleyball. She became the Horizon League’s representative on the AVCA's assistant coaches committee in the fall of 2004. One year later, she began a three-year term as assistant coaches' chair on the AVCA National Board of Directors.
Weatherington also is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta public service sorority, the Black Coaches Association, USA Volleyball, and the Women’s Sports Foundation.
During her time at Butler, Weatherington served on the staff assembly employee affairs committee and implemented the Butler Campus Sweep beautification project.
Weatherington graduated from New Mexico State in 1998 with degrees in journalism and psychology and a minor in marketing. She completed her masters of science in Education with an emphasis in instructional technology from Butler.
Weatherington has presented at conferences for the Michigan Interscholastic Volleyball Association and the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association. She also participated on the NCAA/NCLR Think Tank on Homophobia in Sport. Most recently, she presented at the AVCA Convention in Tampa, Fla., on a panel entitled “So You Want to Be a Head Coach?”
Weatherington and her husband Eddie, have a 10-year old daughter, Zoe, and live in Acworth.
