By: Nolan Alexander
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State women's basketball head coach Octavia Blue has announced the accomplished Keisha McClinic as the Owls' associate head coach. McClinic has coached collegiately since 2009, and most recently held the same title at Tennessee State and East Tennessee State.
"I am thankful and excited to have Coach McClinic join our women's basketball staff as associate head coach. Her experience level is invaluable," said Blue. "She is a great person, teacher of the game, and a connected, well-respected recruiter in the region."
McClinic joins The Nest after three seasons in Nashville. She balanced both sides of the ball as TSU's defensive coordinator during her first and third seasons and switched as the offensive coordinator in 2021-22. The veteran coach mentored the Ohio Valley Conference's 2022 Freshman of the Year and 2023 second-team all-conference performer Gia Adams, as well as 2023 first team and all-newcomer honoree Erica Haynes-Overton.
Off the court, McClinic succeeded in instilling the importance of academics. Serving as the academic coordinator, she guided three Tigers to the all-OVC Academic team. McClinic also scoured the recruiting trail, with a heavy focus on the junior college ranks.
"What impressed me most about Coach Mac is her passion for the overall development of her student-athletes and her ability to create authentic relationships," said Blue, who is entering her third season leading the Owls.
Prior to TSU, McClinic coached across the Volunteer State for four seasons at ETSU. Her efforts showed in both on and off-the-court awards. She mentored six all-conference performers, and Haynes-Overton to a pair of Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year accolades and the SoCon Freshman of the Year honor. The Bucs' 2018 WNIT berth highlighted her stay in Johnson City.
As the team's academic liaison, ETSU averaged at least a 3.0 GPA or higher each semester. McClinic also was the team's compliance liaison and assisted with community service events.
McClinic enjoyed a stellar career at Middle Tennessee State where she was the 2004 Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year and led the Blue Raiders to consecutive conference crowns in 2004-05. She graduated with the most games played (120) in program history and ranked second in career steals with 246. As a team captain, McClinic's Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year award was buoyed by the fourth-most steals per game (3.5) in the NCAA. As a senior, she helped the Blue Raiders upset 12th-ranked North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
McClinic later began her coaching career at Alabama. From 2009-11, McClinic was the director of player development, and from 2011-12, became the director of operations. Her time in Tuscaloosa, along with a UA master's degree, led to three years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Pensacola State College, and a season at Murray State with the same titles.
This is a homecoming opportunity for McClinic. She starred at Eagles Landing High School in Stockbridge where her jersey was retired in 2019.
"Coach Mac has made significant contributions to the success of every program she has been a part of in her career," said Blue. "I am confident she will do the same here at KSU."
The Owls are coming off an impressive campaign in year two under Octavia Blue. KSU achieved its most overall wins in nearly 10 years. Its 15 wins are tied for the third-most in a season in KSU's Division I history, and the Owls posted their first 10-win season in ASUN Conference play since 2008-09. The Owls also finished with a 9-4 mark at home, the most wins at the KSU Convocation Center since 2015-16.
