“It is with incredible pride and excitement that I congratulate Kelly on being named the next Head Women’s Basketball Coach at American University,” University of Pennsylvania head coach Mike McLaughlin said in a statement addressed to Kelly Killion. 

The statement comes after the Director of Athletics and Recreation at American University, JM Caparro, officially welcomed Kelly to the program early this April. She is the recent replacement after former head coach Tiffany Col. Caparro needed a defiant and passionate HC in the program. He wanted someone who had single-handedly built a successful women’s team. And Killion is a conjurer in that department.

With a successful coaching trajectory and a high basketball IQ, Kelly Killion is a smart addition to the American University. But who is this Kelly Killion besides being the new head coach of women’s basketball at American University? While we can bridge the connection between her and Penn, let us delve deeper into her career and personal life to understand more about her.

What is known about Kelly Killion?

Kelly Killion is an American basketball coach with over a decade of collegiate coaching experience across high school and three universities. As someone who began her collegiate career at her alma mater, it was no surprise when she re-joined Penn University in 2016. 

Being a student of McLaughlin during her collegiate days at Penn, it was undoubtedly a proud moment for the HC to see his students grow exponentially. Reminiscing on Kelly’s exceptional coaching abilities, McLaughlin said, “As I reflect on the many years we’ve spent working together, it’s clear that the impact Kelly has had on this team, the players, and the entire program is immeasurable.” 

Prior to that, she served as Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn). Overall, her journey with the university marks 15 years, including 11 years of her coaching career.  The popular coach was recently appointed Head Coach of the American University women’s basketball program in April 2024.

What is Kelly Killion’s Coaching Experience?

University of Pennsylvania (Penn):

Kelly has spent 11 seasons at Penn over a period of two stints. Her first tenure at Penn lasted only two years, i.e., from 2010 to 2012, whereas her second stint at the university ran from 2016 to 2024. Kelly was promoted to the post of Associate Head Coach in July 2022. She has successfully contributed to two Ivy League titles, and the team has made multiple postseason appearances under her guidance. As an Associate HC, Kelly has also played a key role in the development of All-Ivy players and Ivy League champions.

William & Mary (2013–16):

After gaining ample experience as a coach at Penn and Sacred Heart Universities, Kelly moved to William & Mary. It was here that she got an opportunity to display her talents and train the team efficiently. What’s more? Kelly helped the women’s team secure its first-ever postseason appearance in 2015. Here, Kelly got massive opportunities as she coached multiple All-CAA and academic award-winning players. Not just that, during her three-year stint at the university, Kelly went on to improve the program’s performance by leading William & Mary to 15 consecutive wins.

Sacred Heart University (2012–13):

After her first-ever experience as a coach at Penn University that lasted barely two years, Kelly joined Sacred Heart University in 2012. Here, she worked under head coach Ed Swanson, who is known for his competitive streak and defensiveness when it comes to winning tournaments. During her tenure at the uni, the team qualified for the Women’s National Invitational Tournament. Needless to say, Kelly was lucky enough to have coached three All-NEC guards while at the Sacred Heart.

High School and AAU Coaching (2008–10):

Before becoming a coach for women’s college basketball, Kelly served as an assistant coach at Camden Catholic High School. Meanwhile, she also donned the hat of a head coach for the Tri-State Tar Heels AAU team between 2008 and 2010.

What Players Has Kelly Killion Helped Develop?

Kelly has developed several Ivy League players during her decade of coaching, including Ivy League Rookie of the Year and First-Team All-Ivy, Kayla Padilla. She has also developed the 7th National Assist-to-Turnover, Kendall Grasela. Other popular players trained under Kelly include the two-time Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year and popular NCAA Blocks leader, Eleah Parker, Princess Aghayere, an All-Ivy selection player who was named Big 5 Most Improved Player, and Alyssa Baron, who became the first freshman to lead the Ivy League in scoring.

What is Kelly Killion’s Playing Background?

Kelly Killion was a four-year letter-winner and a three-time captain at Holy Family University. The versatile player has been playing ever since her high school days, where she holds the school record for most three-pointers (313) and ranks second in assists (619). Killion even went on to become a two-time holder of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Player of the Year. Her exceptional gameplay earned her a place in the University forever, with Kelly’s name being inducted into the Holy Family Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021.

What is Known About Kelly Killion’s Personal Life?

Kelly Killion is married to Edward Bacerra and the couple have a child named Edward Lee Bacerra III, who was born in December 2020. The American University coach is extremely private when it comes to her personal life. Therefore, no other personal information about Kelly or her husband is available in public.