North Texas head women’s basketball coach Mike Petersen announced the hiring of Karen Blair, a former UT Arlington assistant, on Wednesday, May 1.

"We are extremely happy she has joined our program," Petersen said. "She brings great basketball knowledge and experience, both coaching and playing, to our team. She will coach guards for us, and she has a familiarity with the Dallas-Fort Worth area."

Blair comes to Denton equipped with 14 years of coaching experience, 12 of which were in the north Texas area.

"I’m happy to be a part of the Mean Green family," Blair said. " I have tremendous respect for Coach Petersen, and this is a great time to be a part of North Texas."

Blair, a SMU graduate, was a three-year starter at point for the Mustangs. During her playing career, she led the Ponies to three NCAA Tournament appearances as well as a WAC title in 1999.

She began her coaching career at SMU following her graduation and coached there for 10 years before going to Colgate. She returned to Texas after two years at Colgate as an assistant for UTA in 2011. She spent two years in Arlington on the Mavericks staff before joining the Mean Green.

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