DELAND, Fla. - Stetson is delighted to welcome Kristina Baugh as the newest addition to our women's basketball program. With an impressive coaching career and a track record of success, Baugh joins us as an assistant coach following her remarkable tenure as the head coach of Barry University and the University of Massachusetts-Boston.

"I think she brings a ton of experience; she did an outstanding job at Barry, and having head coaching experience, it's always good to have someone on your staff that has that," says Head Coach Lynn Bria, expressing her confidence in Baugh's abilities.

Taking over the helm of the women's basketball program at Barry University in the fall of 2020, Baugh made an immediate impact during her first full season. Guiding the team to a 16-10 overall record, including a solid 12-8 record in the Sunshine State Conference, Baugh led the Buccaneers to the semi-finals of the SSC Tournament for the first time since 2018. The team achieved notable milestones, including their first-ever road game victory along the way. Under Baugh's guidance, Harriet Swindells emerged as the conference's all-time career leader in made three-point field goals, setting a record of 270.

Prior to her successful tenure at Barry University, Baugh spent five seasons as the head coach of the Beacons at the University of Massachusetts-Boston. During her time there, she led the Beacons to an impressive 87-49 overall record, including an exceptional 62-20 record over the last three years. Under her leadership, the team experienced significant milestones, such as achieving their first-ever two 20-win seasons, capturing the first-ever Little East Conference Tournament Championship, and earning their program's inaugural NCAA Tournament appearance.

Baugh's .640 winning percentage remains the best in school history, reflecting her exceptional coaching abilities. She was also honored as the 2017-18 Little East Conference Co-Coach of the Year, becoming only the second coach in Beacon history to receive this prestigious award. One of her standout seasons was in 2017-18 when she led one of the youngest teams in the nation to an incredible 25-4 record, setting new program records for wins, conference wins, winning streak, and the highest-ever finish in conference play.

"I'm really happy to be here, obviously Coach is a winner and I wanted to be around a winner and learn something new so I'm really excited to be here, and it's a great group of girls," exclaimed Baugh, expressing her enthusiasm for joining Stetson and the team.

Before her success at UMass-Boston, Baugh served as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Central Connecticut State University, where she played a crucial role in the team's success. During her time there, the team achieved two winning seasons and a combined 46 victories over three seasons. They also secured appearances in the Northeast Conference tournament twice and the NIT Tournament once. Baugh's coaching expertise helped develop several players who earned All-Conference accolades, with Jess Babe even receiving Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.

Baugh's coaching journey also includes her time as the head men's basketball coach of the Carolina Cheetahs in the American Basketball Association (ABA). In her first season with the Cheetahs, she led the team to a successful season, posting a combined 14 victories and guiding them to the postseason tournament in their inaugural year. Additionally, she gained valuable coaching experience while working on the staff at Winston-Salem State in North Carolina and New Jersey Tech.

Baugh's expertise extends beyond coaching offense and defense. "What we all liked best about her was her energy, her passion," adds Bria. "You can just feel her energy and her passion for the game."

As a graduate of Providence College with a degree in history, Baugh's passion for basketball was evident during her four-year tenure as a member of the Friars' basketball program. She appeared in 109 games, honing her skills under the guidance of esteemed coaches Susan Yow and Phil Seymore. In 2015, Baugh furthered her educational pursuits and earned her master's degree in educational leadership from Central Connecticut State University.

Focusing on the future, Baugh adds, "It's just exciting, it's a new start, new experience, and some more wins." Her optimism aligns with the team's vision and aspirations.

With her impressive coaching accomplishments, commitment to player development, and passion for the game, Kristina Baugh is poised to make a significant impact on our women's basketball program at Stetson University.

As Baugh settles into her role, the team has been making significant strides. "We've got a big roster; I think we're going to have a deep team. We've got a good nucleus coming back," shares Bria, highlighting the team's progress. "Our summer workouts, they've meshed well together, they've gotten to know each other a bit, so we just had an outstanding summer."

About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program is driven by a shared purpose. It is what inspires, motivates and binds us together. More than a task, a reason for being. THE HATTER PURPOSE is to create and provide an experience of a lifetime through teamwork and relationships to achieve excellence. This purpose is achieved through five Core Values: Communication, Integrity, Excellence, Value People and Commitment. To learn more about the HATS program and our Core Values, visit GoHatters.com/HATS.

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