|
Head coach Karen Caires enters her seventh year at the helm of
the Grossmont College Women's Basketball program. Now, in her
seventh season leading the Griffins, Caires has made noteworthy
progress.
 Caires
is no stranger to women's basketball. Her 18 years of coaching
experience range from the West coast to the East coast, and from the
high school level to major Division I basketball. She began her
coaching career at her alumni, Cypress College as an Assistant from
1989 to 1992. In 1992, Caires took over the John F. Kennedy High
School girls' basketball program. In her two years leading the
Fighting Irish they posted two 2nd round CIF appearances and sent
two players to the Division I level.
In 1994 Caires accepted her first Division I position at the
University of Vermont as Assistant Coach and by 1996 was promoted to
Associate Head Coach. Her responsibilities at the University of
Vermont included recruiting, defensive coordination, player
development, academic monitoring, strength and conditioning,
fundraising, directing summer camps, and assisting in implementation
of the kids' club. In her three years at UVM, the program was
rebuilt and went from an 11-17 record to an 18-11 second place
finish in the America East Conference. Caires was instrumental in
getting the University of Tennessee to play in their Howard Bank
Classic Christmas Tournament. This helped Coach Pat Summit finally
get to one of the four states she had yet to experience. Caires was
also credited for signing the first California recruit to the
University of Vermont, and the player came from the California
Community College system.
 In
1997, Caires returned to the west coast and entered the coaching
ranks of the Pacific-10 Conference at Oregon State University. She
spent only one year at OSU under Coach Judy Spoelstra because she
was offered the assistant coaching position at the University of
Arizona. This afforded her the opportunity to not only remain in the
Pac-10 Conference but also to be closer to her family in Orange
County, CA. In addition, Arizona was one of Coach Caires’ dream
schools and she aspired to coach at the McKale Center ever since the
first time she set foot there as a summer camp coach in 1992. In
Caires' tenure at the University of Arizona from 1998 to 2002,
Arizona advanced to two 2nd round NCAA appearances and had several
players on the All Conference Pac-10 team throughout the years. In
addition, Arizona had players advance to the WNBA and play overseas.
In 2002, Caires was offered a position to instruct and coach at
Grossmont College. She accepted the offer because it afforded her
the opportunity to come full circle and give back to the level that
launched her career and be closer to her family. In 2003 and 2006
Coach Caires was blessed with the birth of her daughters, Katherine
"Katie" Ann Caires and Kennedy Rae Caires, respectively.
Coach Caires obtained her Associate of Science degree from
Cypress College and her B.A. degree from Cal State University
Northridge in Kinesiology. She started at Cypress College in 1985
and obtained a medical red shirt due to a torn ACL injury. Caires
played at Cypress College from 1986 to 1988 and for both years was
named to the Orange Empire All Conference first team. Caires was
also team captain for both years and was an integral part of the
Cypress Chargers Orange Empire Conference Championship team that
posted a 10-0 undefeated season record. Caires also received The
California Community College Scholastic achievement award, which is
given to only 18 recipients throughout the state of California.
Following her career at Cypress College, Caires received a
scholarship to Cal State University Northridge to play women's
basketball. After playing for one year for the Matadors, she was
sidelined due to a knee injury. Caires continued her education at
Cal State University Long Beach where she received her M.A. degree
in pedagogy and coaching.
In Caires' first season at Grossmont the Griffins posted only a
4-24 season record; however, the groundwork for a new era had begun.
The 2003-04 season improved to an 11-13 overall record and a fourth
place conference finish. Grossmont finished conference play in front
of Mesa and Cuyamaca College. The 2004-05 campaign erupted into a
20-7 season record and the team qualified for playoffs. Grossmont
posted two All-Conference players and Kayla Henry received the
honors of third team All-State. Both Jessica Cable and Kayla Henry
made an undeniable impact in Griffin history.
In the 2005-06 campaign the Griffins finished second in the
Pacific Coast Conference and 17-14 overall.
The 2006-2007 year was a rebuilding year for the Griffins and
Grossmont finished at fourth in the conference and posted only a
10-18 season. The 2007-2008 season was an exciting one as the team
finished with a 19-11 overall record and a second place finish in
the Pacific Coast Conference. On a larger scale four of the five
sophomores went onto play: Shatori Dearman and Brionna Baker signed
with Cal State Los Angeles, Alexis Bertelsen is continuing her play
at Cal State Monterey Bay, and Megan Ehmke has stayed in town at our
very own UCSD. Of note, is that three of the four players will be
first generation college graduates.
Caires not only knows but also values the impact the Grossmont
College Women’s Basketball program and family is making in her
tenure here in El Cajon. It is a wonderful community surrounding the
“G-House.”
With the help of the dedicated high school coaches and Caires'
staff of our very own returning alumnus Kayla Henry, newcomer Reem
Ghandour, and former player Dalia Ghandour Caires' program is poised
and on track to become a fierce competitor in the Pacific Coast
Conference.
In addition to basketball and her team, Caires enjoys spending
time with her family and friends, raising her children, boogie
boarding, running, boating, and all water sports. |
