Head Women’s Basketball Coach Katie Gearlds is among Indy’s "Best and Brightest."
Created by the Junior Achievement of Central Indiana Inc., the award recognizes “up-and-coming” talent and the next generation of leaders in our community.” Coach Gearlds win was announced at an event on November 9 at the Hilbert Theatre in downtown Indianapolis. Gearlds won in the "Media, Entertainment, & Sports" category.
“This is a well-deserved honor," Steve Downing, Director of Athletics, said. "Coach Gearlds has led our women’s basketball program to great success and we’re proud to call her a Knight!”
In 2016, Gearlds led the women’s basketball team to their first NAIA national championship and was named the NAIA National Coach of the Year.
The former Indiana Miss Basketball and Purdue University standout came to Marian University in 2013 for her first head coaching position. Within two years, Gearlds led the Marian University basketball team to its first automatic bid in the NAIA Division II tournament and setting a school record for number of wins.
Prior to coming to Marian University, Gearlds played professional basketball abroad in Spain, Portugal, and Greece. She was drafted as the number seven overall pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft by the Seattle Storm after graduating from Purdue University. At Purdue, Gearlds finished her career as the fourth-leading scorer in Boilermaker women’s basketball history.
Congratulations Coach Gearlds! Go Knights!
