Katie Vaughn will oversee the UMSL women's basketball team during the 2012-13 season, making her the 11th head coach in the program's history.
Katie Vaughn will now oversee the University of Missouri–St. Louis women’s basketball team after coming off a season as head coach of the record-setting Lincoln University (Jefferson City, Mo.) women’s basketball team. Lori Flanagan, director of athletics at UMSL, announced last week that Vaughn would be the 11th head coach in program history. Vaughn coached for three seasons at Lincoln University.
“We are thrilled to named Katie as our women’s basketball coach,” Flanagan said. “We were impressed with her success, style of play and the development of her players and teams. Her commitment to Division II athletics as both a coach and former player, and her passion for the game of basketball, will benefit our student-athletes as she takes our women’s basketball program to the next level.”
During the 2011-12 campaign, Vaughn directed Lincoln to its most successful season in school history with a 15-13 record – tying season records for most wins in a season and most Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association conference wins. Additionally, the Blue Tigers made their first MIAA Tournament appearance in more than 20 years where they defeated nationally ranked Pittsburg (Kan.) State University in the quarterfinals, notching the program’s first-ever postseason victory.
“I am honored to be the next women’s basketball coach at UMSL,” Vaughn said. “I want to thank the administration and the search committee who have been absolutely fantastic through this process. I am extremely excited about the opportunity to turn the UMSL women’s basketball program around. I am also looking forward to working with a great group of people that have the same goals – to make UMSL Athletics a success!”
Before leading Lincoln in its return to the MIAA in 2010-11, Vaughn guided Lincoln to a 12-15 record in her first season. The last time a first-year head coach led the Blue Tigers to 12 wins was Leo Lewis in the 1981-82 season.
Prior to her appointment at Lincoln, Vaughn served five seasons at Moberly (Mo.) Area Community College, including three seasons (2006-09) as the program’s head coach, where her teams combined for a 56-37 record.
Before Moberly Area Community College, Vaughn served as a graduate assistant at the University of Central Missouri (Warrensburg), her alma mater, while obtaining her master’s degree in sports administration. Vaughn played for the Jennies from 1998-2002 and earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology.
