- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Carolyn Kieger out as Penn State women's basketball coach
Athletic director Pat Kraft announced Kieger's dismissal after seven seasons and zero NCAA Tournament appearances.
Published on Mar. 5, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Carolyn Kieger has been relieved of her duties as the head coach of the Penn State women's basketball team after seven seasons. Athletic director Pat Kraft cited a need for a change in leadership to propel the program toward sustained excellence, as the Nittany Lions missed the Big Ten Tournament for the second consecutive year under Kieger's tenure.
Why it matters
Penn State was once viewed as an elite women's basketball program, making the Final Four in 2000 and owning 13 Sweet 16 trips and eight Big Ten titles. However, the program has struggled in recent years, failing to make the NCAA Tournament since 2014 and not having a winning Big Ten record since 2017. Kieger's dismissal signals Penn State's desire to return the program to its former glory.
The details
Kieger, 42, was hired in 2019 to replace Coquese Washington after a successful run at Marquette, where she won three Big East titles and two NCAA Tournament games. However, Kieger's tenure at Penn State was marked by limited success, as she went 84-124 overall and 0-for-the-NCAA Tournament. The Nittany Lions had just one winning season under Kieger, going 22-13 overall and 9-9 in Big Ten play in the 2023-24 season. In the past two seasons, Penn State went just 5-31 in Big Ten play, with three of the program's four worst conference records happening during Kieger's reign.
- Kieger was hired as Penn State's head coach in 2019, replacing Coquese Washington.
- In the 2023-24 season, Kieger's Nittany Lions went 22-13 overall and 9-9 in Big Ten play, marking the high point of her tenure.
- In the past two seasons, Penn State went just 5-31 in Big Ten play.
- On March 5, 2026, Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft announced that Kieger had been relieved of her duties as head coach.
The players
Carolyn Kieger
The former head coach of the Penn State women's basketball team, who was dismissed after seven seasons and zero NCAA Tournament appearances.
Pat Kraft
The athletic director at Penn State, who announced Kieger's dismissal and cited the need for a change in leadership to propel the program toward sustained excellence.
What they’re saying
“We appreciate Coach Kieger's commitment and passion she brought to Penn State Lady Lion Basketball. Looking ahead, we remain committed to competing at the highest level, and we believe a change in leadership is necessary to propel the program toward sustained excellence.”
— Pat Kraft, Penn State Athletic Director (USA Today)
What’s next
Penn State will now begin a search for a new head coach who can restore the program to its former prominence and lead the Nittany Lions back to the NCAA Tournament.
The takeaway
Carolyn Kieger's dismissal as Penn State's women's basketball coach underscores the university's desire to revive a once-elite program that has fallen on hard times in recent years. The search for a new leader who can rebuild the Nittany Lions and return them to the NCAA Tournament will be a critical decision for Penn State as it looks to recapture its past success.
