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Karen Aston, former head coach at Texas, North Texas and Charlotte, is currently the head coach at UTSA.
Aston has been consistently recognized as one of the top coaches in the nation. She was one of four finalists for the Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year award in 2017 and was one of 10 semifinalists for the honor in 2018. Aston also earned Big 12 Coach of the Year accolades in 2017.
A native of Benton, Arkansas, Aston was a two-time first-team all-state selection at Bryant High School. She capped her high school career by leading Bryant to the 1982 Arkansas Class 4A State Championship. Aston earned a bachelor of arts degree in physical education from Little Rock in 1987. She played two seasons of basketball at UALR after transferring from Ouachita Baptist. Aston is a 1987 graduate of Little Rock, where she earned her bachelor's degree in physical education. She lea the team in scoring and field goals made in 1985-86.
At the University of Texas, Aston led the Longhorns to a 184-83 [.689] record in eight seasons. In her final seven seasons combined at Texas, Aston’s teams averaged 24.6 wins per year, making six NCAA Tournament appearances. From 2015-18, her squads made four consecutive NCAA Sweet 16 showings, marking the first time that had been accomplished at Texas since 1990. Aston also directed the 2015-16 Longhorns to the program’s first NCAA Elite Eight appearance since 2003.
Aston, who also spent eight years as an assistant and associate head coach at Texas for Naismith Hall of Fame head coach Jody Conradt, stands as Texas’ second-winningest coach all-time behind Conradt’s 783 victories.
Aston’s prowess as one of the nation’s best recruiters is also well known. Five of the classes she recruited to Texas were ranked among the top-11 in the nation according to ESPN.com, including three top-five classes. Recruits Charli Collier and Joyner Holmes were both No. 2 prospects according to ESPN and were listed as the nation’s top recruits by some services. Aston brought 14 McDonalds All-Americans to Texas during her eight seasons.
Aston was named the Big 12 Conference Coach of the Year in 2016-17, as the Longhorns swept the league’s annual honors. McCarty was named the Big 12 Player of the Year, Brianna Taylor was selected as the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and Holmes earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year accolades. Aston was one of four finalists nationally for the Naismith Coach of the Year honor.
In 2015-16, Aston led Texas to an historic season. The Longhorns posted a 31-5 overall record, which marked the school’s most victories since the 1987-88 season, and tied the school record for most Big 12 Conference wins [15] in a single season. Texas hosted the NCAA First and Second Rounds for the first time since 2010 and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time since 2003. The Longhorns opened the year with a 16-0 record, marking the third-best start in program history.
While on Conradt's Texas staff from 1998-2006, Aston helped the Longhorns post a 173-83 [.676] record during that span, with seven NCAA Tournament appearances, two trips to the Sweet 16 and a march to the 2003 Final Four. The Longhorns also captured the 2003 Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles, and UT shared the 2004 Big 12 regular-season title. Aston was promoted from assistant coach to associate head coach in July of 2000 after serving as an assistant coach for two seasons.
Before entering the collegiate coaching ranks, Aston was recognized as one of the top high school coaches in the nation. She coached five years at Vilonia High School [1988-93] in Vilonia, Ark., and one year at Fort Smith Northside [1993-94] in Fort Smith, Ark. She guided Fort Smith Northside to a 24-10 record and a fifth-place finish in Class 4A. For her efforts, she was named the Arkansas Northwest Region Coach of the Year.
While at Vilonia, Aston was not only the head basketball coach but also the head cross country and track coach. In 1992-93, she was named the Arkansas Basketball Coach of the Year after leading Vilonia to a 36-1 record and a Class 2A State Championship. Aston's cross country teams also claimed back-to-back state titles in 1991 and 1992.