The news started to break yesterday morning that Duke was close to signing Kara Lewis as the new head coach of the Duke Women's Basketball program. Blue Devil Nation was tipped off that the two parties were closing in on an agreement as Duke A.D. Kevin White was completing the deal behind closed doors.
DURHAM, N.C. – Former WNBA and Olympic Champion Kara Lawson has been named Duke University’s fifth head women’s basketball coach, announced on Saturday by Vice President and Director of Athletics Kevin White.
“I am delighted to welcome Kara Lawson to Duke as our next women’s basketball coach,” said Duke President Vincent E. Price. “Kara has proven herself as a skilled coach and a committed mentor, whose passion for education is demonstrated by her service on her alma mater’s board of trustees. I am thrilled that she will be bringing these talents to Duke, and I know that she will support the continued success of our women’s basketball student-athletes both on the court and off.”
Lawson, a 2003 Tennessee graduate, brings her decorated basketball career, both on and off the court, to the Blue Devils after spending last season as an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics. She had helped Boston to a 43-21 record and into third place in the Eastern Conference prior to the stoppage of the 2019-20 NBA season due to COVID-19. Lawson was the Celtics first female coach in the franchise’s 73-year history.
“A highly-seasoned champion at multiple levels within the basketball landscape, Kara Lawson is the ideal fit for Duke University,” commented White. “Throughout the process, it became abundantly clear that her authenticity, passion, contemporary vision and unwavering commitment to the student-athlete experience align seamlessly with the values of the institution. With her high degree of emotional intelligence, Kara’s astute ability to connect with future, current and former student-athletes, as well as the passionate and dedicated supporters of Duke women’s basketball, will have an immediate and profound impact on the entire program.”
“Well, it is a dream come true for me,” said Lawson. “I have wanted to be a coach since I was a kid. To have an opportunity to lead a group of young women at a prestigious university like Duke – I have run out of words; it is unbelievable and very exciting. I am thankful for the path that led me here and thankful for the belief of President Price, Kevin White, Nina King, Coach Krzyzewski, Coach Cutcliffe and everyone surrounding the program. Everybody I spoke with and had a chance to interact with, I immediately felt a great connection. It wasn’t a decision based on emotion, but there was a lot of emotion involved in it because of how excited I am and how ready I am to get started and to work with the players.”
Following an exceptional playing career, Lawson spent two years as the primary television analyst for the Washington Wizards while also broadcasting games for ESPN Radio. In addition to her role covering the Wizards for NBC Sports Washington, Lawson served as a game and studio analyst for men’s and women’s college basketball and the NBA for ESPN. On January 12, 2007, she became the first female analyst for a nationally-televised NBA game.
Recently, Lawson has assisted efforts for USA Basketball’s 3x3 teams in preparation for the Tokyo Olympic Games. She has helped USA Basketball 3x3 teams to six gold medals since 2017. With Lawson on the sideline, the USA U18 women have won three straight titles (2017 & 2019 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cups and 2018 Youth Olympic Games) while the U18 men captured gold at the 2019 FIBA 3x3 U18 World Cup. Additionally, Lawson helped guide the USA 3x3 men’s and women’s teams to first place finishes at the 2019 Pan American Games.
In 13 WNBA seasons, Lawson averaged 9.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 377 career games with the Sacramento Monarchs, Connecticut Sun and Washington Mystics from 2003 to 2015. In addition to her WNBA career, which included a championship with the Monarchs in 2005 and an All-Star appearance in 2007, Lawson was a member of the Team USA roster that captured the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.
A four-time All-SEC selection and two-time All-America choice at Tennessee, Lawson played for the late Pat Summit and led the Lady Vols to three NCAA Final Four appearances during her collegiate career. Lawson appeared in 143 games, making 137 starts, and helped Tennessee to a 126-17 overall and 54-2 mark in the SEC over her four seasons. Lawson guided the Lady Vols to four straight SEC regular season and tournament crowns, as well as 2000, 2002 and 2003 NCAA Final Four appearances.
In 2003, Lawson was one of seven recipients of the prestigious Torchbearer Award given by the University of Tennessee.
Along with her participation with the 2008 USA Basketball gold medal winning squad, Lawson has extensive international experience. She played with the 2007-08 USA Basketball Women’s National Team and was a member of the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship Team. Lawson was invited to play with the 2006 USA Basketball Women’s National Team during their spring training. She played five games with the 2003 WNBA Select Team that participated in the FIBA Women’s World Cup, was the captain of the gold-medal winning U.S. World University Games Team in 2001 and was a member of bronze-medal winning U.S. Women’s World Youth Games Team in 1998.
As a senior at West Springfield High School, she was selected the 1999 Naismith High School Player of the Year while earning All-America accolades from USA Today, Parade and the WBCA. Additionally, she was the 1998 and 1999 Gatorade Player of the Year in Virginia and led her squad to two state championships.
Lawson, who is married to Damien Barling, graduated from Tennessee in 2003 with a degree in finance.
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The Kara Lawson File
Hometown: Alexandria, Va.
Education: Tennessee, 2003 (Finance)
High School: West Springfield High School
Husband: Damien Barling
Birthday: February 14, 1981
Coaching Experience:
2020-present: Duke University (Head Coach)
2019-20: Boston Celtics (Assistant Coach)
2017-present: USA Basketball 3-on-3 Team (Head Coach)
USA Basketball Highlights:
Preparing USA Basketball 3-on-3 Team for 2021 Tokyo Olympics
Helped lead 3x3 teams to six gold medals since 2017
Led U18 3x3 teams to three straight titles
Led 3x3 men’s and women’s teams to gold medal at 2019 Pan American Games
2009 National Team Training Camp
2008 National Team (Gold Medal)
2007 FIBA Americas Championship Team (Gold Medal)
2006 National Team Spring Training Team
2001 World University Games (Gold Medal)
1998 World Youth Games Team (Bronze Medal)
WNBA Highlights:
Surpassed 3,000 points, 800 rebounds and 700 assists over her 13-year career
Led nine of her teams to the playoffs out of 13 seasons
2009 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award winner
2007 WNBA All-Star
Led Sacramento Monarchs to WNBA Title in 2005
Drafted in the 2003 Draft, No. 5 overall, by the Detroit Shock
2003 WNBA Select Team that played in FIBA World Cup (2nd)
Tennessee Highlights:
Guided Tennessee to a 126-17 overall and 54-2 SEC record
Led Lady Vols to four straight SEC Tournament and regular season titles
Made 2000, 2002 and 2003 NCAA Final Four appearances
Ranks sixth all-time in scoring (1,950)
Four-time All-SEC First Team (2000-03)
Two-time Naismith Player of the Year finalist (2002-03)
Two-time U.S. Basketball Writers of America All-America honoree (2002-03)
2003 Kodak All-America
2003 Associated Press Second Team All-America
2003 Arthur Ashe Jr. Female Student-Athlete of the Year
2003 CoSIDA/Verizon First Team Academic All-America selection
2002 Associated Press Third Team All-America
2001 Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America
2001 CoSIDA/Verizon Academic All-District honoree
2000 Women’s Basketball Journal Freshman All-America and SEC All-Freshman Team