It was announced on March 7, 2016 that Perry's contract would not be renewed.Nitra Perry enters her fourth season as the head coach of the Kennesaw State women's basketball program after becoming the sixth head coach in the history of the program on April 25, 2012 after coming to Kennesaw from the University of Toledo.
Perry is coming off her most successful season at the helm of the Owls as she led KSU to the winningest season in the Division I era with a 17-13 record in 2014-15, including opening the season with a Division I program best 10-2 mark in the first 12 games. It was the first winning campaign since the 2008-09 season, with KSU finishing in a tie for fourth in the Atlantic Sun Conference standings with a 6-8 mark in league play, the Owls' best finish in the A-Sun since 2011-12. Along with the historic season, Perry earned her first superlative honor as head coach when then-junior Jasmine McAllister was named the 2015 A-Sun Newcomer of the Year in her first season in the Black and Gold.
In her first season guiding the Owls, Perry led Kennesaw State to a 7-24 overall record, including a 3-15 mark in Atlantic Sun Conference play. KSU advanced to the conference tournament where it fell 73-47 to Mercer in a first-round match-up.Despite one less win in Perry’s second season, the Owls showed improvement in a 6-24 season and advanced to the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament for the fifth-consecutive season after finishing seventh in the league with a 4-14 mark. KSU would give eventual runner-up Stetson a run for their money in its quarterfinal match-up, before falling 73-56 to the Hatters.
Prior to assuming her first head coaching position, Perry spent four seasons as a member of the Rockets’ coaching staff and in 2011-12 she served as the program’s associate head coach. Recognized as one of the top young assistants in the business, Perry was involved in all facets of the program, including on-floor coaching, academic support, individual conditioning workouts and scouting. She also served as the program’s recruiting coordinator. During her four years at Toledo, the Rockets amassed an impressive 96-40 overall record and a 50-14 mark in the Mid-American Conference.
“Nitra is a rising star in this profession,” two-time MAC Coach of the Year Head Coach Tricia Cullop said of her former assistant. “She has an outstanding work ethic, tremendous communication skills and is a winner. She did an amazing job helping us rebuild our program and I know it is only a matter of time before she has Kennesaw State challenging for an Atlantic Sun title.”
In 2011-12, Perry helped guide Toledo to a 24-10 record as the Rockets advanced all the way to the Elite Eight of the WNIT before falling to Syracuse. She also coached and mentored Andola Dortch, who was the 2012 MAC Defensive Player of the Year, and Courtney Ingersoll, who was the No. 6 nationally ranked three-point shooter in the country.
In 2010-11, Perry helped mentor the Rockets to a school-record 29 victories and become the first MAC basketball program to capture a national postseason tournament. Toledo’s WNIT run was capped off by an eight-point triumph over Southern California in the championship game. Perry was also instrumental in signing a 2010-11 recruiting class that ranked best in the MAC (No. 68 in NCAA), according to the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report.
During the 2009-10 season, Perry aided UT to its fifth MAC West Division crown in school history, as well as advance to the league tournament finals for the first time since 2001. The Rockets earned their sixth all-time appearance in the WNIT. Toledo defeated Big East foe Pittsburgh in the first round and moved on to the second round for the first time since 1998. The Rockets finished 12-4 in conference action and concluded the season with a 25-9 ledger.
In 2008-09, Perry assisted Toledo to double-digit league victories (11) for the first time in the last six years and an appearance in the MAC Tournament Semifinals, despite being picked sixth in the West Division by the MAC News Media Association. Toledo won six more conference games (11-5 record) than it did in 2007-08 (5-10 mark).
Perry arrived at Toledo following two seasons at her alma mater Mississippi State, where she was responsible for player development, practice preparation, assisting with recruitment and overseeing academics. While with the Bulldogs, she helped mentor All-SEC Freshman performers Alexis Rack and Mary Kathryn Govero. Perry returned to her alma mater after serving as an administrative assistant with the Georgia Tech program for three seasons (2004-06), where she also assisted with the Yellow Jackets’ women’s basketball camps.
A four-year letterwinner for the Lady Bulldogs from 1996-2000, Perry garnered numerous honors at Mississippi State, including being named honorable mention All-SEC by the Associated Press in 1999 and 2000 and earning SEC Academic Honor Roll and SEC All-Tournament Team honors in 2000. She currently ranks in the Top 15 on the school’s all-time scoring chart with 1,124 career points and in the Top 10 on the rebound list with 746 career boards.
Perry was a member of three Lady Bulldog squads to reach postseason play, making two trips to the NCAA Tournament and one to the WNIT. During her senior campaign in 2000, she helped MSU to a program-best 24 wins and a run to the SEC Tournament Championship game.
Following her graduation in 2000 with a degree in education, Perry traveled overseas to play basketball for two years, competing in Portugal in 2001 and Italy in 2002. She also competed for the Birmingham Power of the NWBL during 2003-04 before joining the coaching ranks.
Nitra Perry - Career Timeline
Collegiate Playing Experience1996-2000: Mississippi State
Assistant Coaching Experience2008-12: Toledo
2006-08: Mississippi State
2004-06: Georgia TechHead Coaching Experience2012-present: Kennesaw StateWhat the Basketball World is Saying About Nitra Perry
“Nitra is a rising star in this profession. She has an outstanding work ethic, tremendous communication skills and is a winner. She did an amazing job helping us rebuild our Toledo program and I know it is only a matter of time before she has Kennesaw State challenging for an Atlantic Sun Conference title.”
Tricia Cullop- Head Coach, University of Toledo- Perry was an assistant coach on Cullop’s staff from 2008-11 and Associate Head Coach during 2011-12 campaign. “Playing for Coach Perry for four years was a life-changing experience, and I say that without being cliché. The way she impacts people every day, you can’t help but be a better person from being around her. She’s going to be missed a whole lot, and that is to her credit. Kennesaw State got themselves a great coach. She is going to continue a great tradition there.”
Courtney Ingersoll- All-time leader at Toledo in three point field goals (2008-12)- Perry coached her at Toledo throughout her entire four-year career.
“Kennesaw State has just hired one of the most passionate, competitive, motivated, focused individuals that I have ever coached and coached with. Nitra is a student of the game and not only has the will to win, she has the will to prepare to win. I’m so excited for her, but also for Kennesaw State, because her energy and passion will be such an asset to the program. It’s always a great experience seeing your former players progress, and it’s been great watching her grow as a coach. She did a great job with our community and in the classroom, she represented Mississippi State extremely well both on and off the floor, and there is no doubt she will do the same at Kennesaw State.”
Sharon Fanning-Otis- Former Head Coach, Mississippi State- Perry played at MSU for Fanning-Otis from 1997-2000 and was an assistant coach on her staff from 2006-08.
“Nitra Perry is one of the top up-and-coming young coaches in women’s basketball. She has had tremendous success at every level as a player and assistant coach. I look forward to watching Nitra’s success as a head coach at Kennesaw State.”
MaChelle Joseph- Head Coach, Georgia Tech- Perry was an Administrative Assistant for Recruiting under Joseph at Georgia Tech from 2004-06.
