HARVEY NAMED INTERIM WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH

Montclair , NJ – (9/24/07) – The Montclair State Department of Athletics has announced the hiring of Karin Harvey as the interim head women’s basketball coach. A former assistant with the Red Hawks for two seasons, Harvey replaces Beth O’Boyle, who accepted an assistant coaching position with Canisius College earlier this month.

Harvey returns to Montclair State following one season as the head coach at Drew University. Harvey led the Rangers to their most successful season in program history with conference and ECAC playoff semifinal appearances.  The 2006-07 Drew team set a school record for conference wins (8) and under Harvey's tutelage Courtney Cunningham was named a WBCA/Kodak National All-American and Melissa Kraft became the first Rangers to be named to the All-Conference first team for three consecutive seasons. 

Harvey spent two seasons with the Red Hawks including the 2005-06 season, during which Montclair posted an 18-10 overall mark, finished second in the New Jersey Athletic Conference the best conference finish by an MSU squad since 1999.  Montclair also reached the semifinals of the ECAC Division III Metro Tournament. In addition to her coaching duties, Harvey served as the recruiting coordinator, handled all scouting operations and oversaw community outreach and fundraising efforts.  As the Red Hawks’ recruiting coordinator she was responsible for bringing in two very talented incoming classes.

In addition to her tenure at Montclair State, Harvey also the head volleyball coach for two seasons and assisted with the Red Hawks women’s lacrosse program in 2006. On the volleyball court, Harvey revitalized the program and turning it into a NJAC contender with the infusion of 13 new players in two years and had two players selected to the NJAC All-Conference Team, the first multiple selections for MSU since 2000.

“We are excited to find a coach of Karin Harvey's caliber to take over the team for the 2007-2008 season,” said MSU Director of Athletics Holly Gera. Coach Harvey was involved in recruiting many of the players on the team when she was an assistant here.  Here knowledge and familiarity with the University and Athletic Department will enable us to have a very smooth transition.  We are looking forward to the upcoming season."

Prior to Montclair State, Harvey had been successful on the high school and collegiate levels.  She spent two years at the Connelly of the Holy Child where she helped the team to a 15-6 mark and its first basketball banner in seven years.  In 1997, at Northampton High School, Harvey made Massachusetts state history as she became the first female coach of a boys’ high school team as the assistant varsity and freshman coach.

Harvey spent two seasons at Smith College where she earned her master’s degree in Exercise and Sports Studies in 2000.  While at Smith, Harvey was responsible for several aspects of the program, including scouting, recruiting and team administration.  In addition to Harvey’s extensive coaching experience, she was the junior varsity coach for the Deerfield (MI) High School girls’ team and also spent time coaching with her alma mater Aquinas College. She spent two seasons with the women’s team at Aquinas and earned herself the Athletic Management Award.  Harvey also served as an assistant coach on the Zag USA Team that earned a bronze medal at the Eastern University Games in July, 2005.