Wellesley College Names Jennifer Kroll Head Basketball Coach

WELLESLEY, Mass. – Wellesley College Director of Athletics Bridget Belgiovine is pleased to announce the hiring of Jennifer Kroll as Head Basketball Coach and PERA Assistant Professor. 

"The Wellesley basketball program will be led by a highly successful, coach, teacher and mentor for our student-athletes," said Belgiovine.  "We look forward to the next era for Wellesley basketball and our student-athletes."

Now entering her 11th year as a head basketball coach, Kroll boasts an overall record of 167-95 (.637) at three Division-III institutions. As the 2007 NCAA East Region and Liberty League Coach of the Year, as well as the 2000 Empire 8 Coach of the Year, Kroll served on the NCAA East Regional Advisory Committee from 2007 to 2009.

"I am thrilled to accept the position at Wellesley College. The level of engagement of the student-athlete in every aspect of their experience is what impressed me most," said Kroll.  "I am excited about building relationships within the Wellesley community and expanding on the department's rich tradition of success."

Kroll comes to Wellesley after a successful five-year stint at St. Lawrence University where she guided the Saints to an impressive 101-35 (.742) overall mark with a 56-14 (.800) Liberty League record.  Most recently, Kroll led the Saints to a 10-4 Liberty League mark in the 2008-09 season, while wrapping up the third consecutive NCAA Tournament berth and the second straight conference championship for the program.

Prior to coaching at St. Lawrence, Kroll spent four seasons at the University of Chicago where, in 2000-01, she guided the Maroons to a 15-9 record, marking the program's first winning season in six years.  Overall, she compiled a 45-53 record at the helm of the program while also serving on several campus-wide committees including the Ratner Center Opening Ceremonies Committee, the Professional Expectations Committee, and the Personnel Reappointment Committee.

Kroll started her head-coaching career at Ithaca College for the Bomber's 1999-2000 campaign. In just one season, she Kroll guided Ithaca to a 21-7 mark, the ECAC Upstate New York championship, and a share of the Empire 8 Conference title.

Before Ithaca, Kroll served as an assistant coach at Cornell University from 1995-99 and as a graduate assistant at the University of Kentucky from 1992-94. 

A 1991 graduate of Northwestern University, Kroll played in two NCAA Division I tournaments and was part of the 1990 Big Ten Conference championship team. She earned her bachelor's degree at Northwestern in 1991 and her master's degree in sports management at Kentucky in 1995.

Kroll takes over at Wellesley following the retirement of 18-year head coach, Kathy Hagerstrom.