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At Kansas, O'Connor works primarily with the Jayhawk wing players. She has recruiting responsibilities and also helps coordinate KU's scouting efforts. In her first season working with the Jayhawk wing players, O'Connor's presence was immediately felt. Danielle McCray went from Honorable Mention All-Big 12 to one of five players on the First Team. McCray averaged 21.6 points per game off of improved shooting and she also led KU in rebounding, steals and blocks. McCray earned Honorable Mention All-America honors and also earned a spot on the 2009 World University Games Team. In addition, O'Connor also worked with Sade Morris, the second leading scorer for KU in 2008-09. Morris turned in 12.7 points per game and was the top defender for the Jayhawks. Both players flourished under O'Connor's tutelage. Prior to working with the Jayhawk wings, O'Connor guided the KU frontcourt. While working with O'Connor, KU forward Crystal Kemp earned All-Big 12 First Team accolades for the 2005-06 season, while becoming just the sixth Jayhawk to accumulate over 1,600 career points and 800 career rebounds. Kemp also became the first KU player to be named the Big 12 Player of the Week twice in a single season. In her first season on the KU sidelines, O'Connor developed Kemp into an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection-the first Kansas post player to earn such an award since 2000-2001. A former player for Bonnie Henrickson, O'Connor spent three seasons as a full-time assistant coach at Virginia Tech. She had on-court coaching responsibilities working with the perimeter players and also assisted in areas such as planning team travel and film coordination. She also served as the director of the women's basketball summer camps. Before becoming a full-time assistant coach, O'Connor spent two years as an administrative assistant at Virginia Tech. In that role, she helped to coordinate daily operation of the basketball office and oversaw Tech's booster club, the Hokie Hardwood Club. O'Connor, a native of Chapel Hill, N.C., was a four-year starter for the Hokies from 1995-99. She helped lead Tech to an Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament title in 1998, an A-10 regular-season title in 1999 and two NCAA Tournament appearances. In her senior season, the program enjoyed its most successful year, posting a 28-3 record, a Sweet 16 appearance and the program's highest ranking of No. 9. As a senior, O'Connor was also named the Atlantic 10 Conference's Most Improved Player. O'Connor graduated from Virginia Tech in May 2000 with a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies. |
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Katie O'Connor is in her seventh season as an assistant coach at Kansas and her 10th as an assistant under head coach Bonnie Henrickson.
