Saint Mary’s Women’s Basketball has announced their team of coaches and support staff for the 2023-24 season, as Head Coach Jeff Cammon has assembled a staff he feels will take SMC to the next level.
“I’m very excited about the staff that we have assembled,” said Head Coach Jeff Cammon. “We wanted to not only bring in coaches who were qualified, but also coaches that can be great mentors and role models for our young ladies. We’re all excited to start the process of building something special here at Saint Mary’s.”
Paul Reed
Paul Reed comes to the Gaels after two seasons as an assistant on the Cal Women’s Basketball program. Before that, he spent four
years as Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at University of Washington.
During his time in Seattle, Reed helped the Huskies steadily rebuild, culminating with a trip to the Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals in 2021 after upsetting No. 6-seed Colorado 68-54. Reed oversaw three All-Pac-12 players at UW and helped an impressive 11 student-athletes become members of the Pac-12 All-Academic Team.
At Cal, Reed worked with the post players, led recruiting efforts, and assisted on the defensive side of the ball.
Prior to his time at UW, Reed spent three seasons as an assistant at Long Beach State, compiling a 69-30 overall record. His success included three consecutive 20-win campaigns which were highlighted with a Big West Conference Tournament championship in 2017 and a berth to the NCAA Tournament. Reed helped his team reach the WNIT in each of the two years prior.
Prior to LBSU, Reed served as the head girls’ varsity basketball coach for two years at Cienega High School in Vail, Ariz. During that time, he compiled a 45-13 overall record and led the Bobcats to a pair of appearances in the state tournament. In 2014, Reed was named the Southern Arizona Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his career after guiding Cienega to a regional championship and a runner-up finish at the Arizona Girls’ State Basketball Division II playoffs. Cienega concluded the season at 26-2.
Reed earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Langston University (Okla.) in 1995. He was a two-year letter winner in football and was a USA Today Small College All-American defensive back. Reed went on to receive his master’s in secondary education from the University of Phoenix
Kevin Adams
Kevin Adams comes to Saint Mary’s after six seasons as an assistant coach at Long Beach State. He joined LBSU in 2017 after serving in his second stint as the associate head coach of
the women’s basketball program at Cal Poly Pomona.
At Long Beach Adams assisted in on-court drills and working individually with players. While at the Beach, the program went to Back-to-Back WNIT Post Season appearances and compiling 42 wins the last two season.
With Adams mentoring the Beach, Tori Harris earned Big West Player of the Year and All-Big West First Team in 2022-23 while, Kristyna Jeskeova was named Best Defensive Player, Best Hustle Player and was named to the All-Defensive Team, Ma’Qhi Berry was also selected to the All-Defensive Team as well as Big West All-Second Team, while Malia Bambrick and Kianna Hamilton each earned Honorable Mention.
Maddi Utti earned All-Big West First Team accolades and was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2021-22, while Justina King was named Big West Conference Freshman of the Year in 2018-19, before earning Big West Conference All-Second Team and All-Defensive Team accolades on two occasions and earning 2020-21 Big West First Team honors.
Adams has also worked closely with Ma’Qhi Berry and Patricia Chung who earned All-Defensive and All-Freshman Team accolades, respectively, in 2020-21, while Naomi Hunt and Shanaijah Davison garnered All-Second Team and Honorable Mention honors, respectively, in 2018-19.
Adams served as an Associate Head Coach for Cal Poly Pomona for five seasons. During his first run with the Broncos, Cal Poly Pomona reached five straight Division II NCAA Tournaments, and advanced to the NCAA Final Four in 2014.
During his time at Cal Poly Pomona, Adams has helped develop three players named the CCAA Player of the Year as well as 15 All-CCAA honorees.
Adams was a four-year letter winner at Yucaipa High School and returned to his alma mater to assist the boys’ basketball program. He graduated from Cal Baptist University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology. Adams and his wife Nicole have three children, Kennedy, Josiah, and Bryant.
Lexi Peterson
Lexi Petersen comes to Saint Mary’s from Seattle University. She served as an assistant coach on Suzy Barcomb’s staff from the summer of 2020 to the end of the 2023 season. Petersen served one season as the Redhawks’ Director of Basketball Operations before being promoted to assistant coach in 2020. Petersen worked with Seattle U shooting guards and prepared player personnel files for opponent scouting reports.
Petersen is a 2016 graduate of the University of Oregon, where she scored 1,226 career points in a school-record 126 games. She played professionally in Greece and Iceland the last three years.
The native of Tukwila, Wash., worked as a youth basketball coach in Iceland and helped launch the “Women Ball Too” summer program in 2019. Petersen joined Barcomb’s staff in the summer of 2019 as Director of Basketball Operations.
Tia Karapoulis
In her time as the director of operations, Karapoulios has been responsible for the team’s day-to-day logistics including travel, equipment, academic support, video coordination, as well as serving as the primary liaison to the coaching staff.
Prior to SMC Karapoulios spent the last five seasons with Long Beach State as the Director of Basketball operations and graduate student manager. Additionally, Karapoulios has gained professional experience serving as an intern for the Los Angeles Sparks and in the Caltech athletics department, specifically working with the Beavers’ women’s basketball team for two years.
A former student-athlete at Smith College, Karapoulios helped the team to capture the 2014 NEWMAC Regular Season Championship. The team captain led the Pioneers to four consecutive NEWMAC playoff appearances as well as an NCAA Tournament showing in 2013.
Karapoulios graduated from Smith College with a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology before earning her Master’s Degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in sports management from Long Beach State.
The Gaels are slated to start their 2023-24 season this November 6 at Grand Canyon University.
https://smcgaels.com/news/2023/5/19/womens-basketball-wbb-staff-finalized-for-upcoming-season.aspx
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