KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State head women's basketball coach Agnus Berenato has elevated Khadija Head to associate head coach, it was announced on Tuesday (Aug. 29).
 
Head, who is beginning her second season as a member of Berenato's Kennesaw State staff, served as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator during her first year with the Owls.
 
"I am very excited to name Khadija as my associate head coach. She has been in the trenches for many years, most recently with me in the Big East Conference and now in the ASUN Conference," Berenato said. "Khadija has tremendous experience at every level with women's basketball starting as an NCAA Division I student-athlete, coaching AAU teams, serving as a director of operations in the SEC and as an assistant coach at various universities."
 
Prior to coming to Kennesaw State, Head was assistant coach/recruiting coordinator under Berenato at Pitt (2010-13) where she was involved in all aspects of the women's basketball program, including recruiting, game planning, position-specific training for the point guards and academic advancement.
 
The Panthers' 2011 recruiting class was ranked 19th nationally, the highest-ranked class in school history. Included in that class was Brianna Kiesel, who was drafted out of Pitt by the Tulsa Shock in the second round of 2015 WNBA Draft.
 
"I want to thank Kennesaw State President Sam Olens, interim director of athletics Matt Griffin, and head coach Agnus Berenato for honoring me with this promotion," Head said. "It has been a privilege to contribute to Kennesaw State women's basketball over the past season and I look forward to continuing to build upon the legacy and vision that Coach Berenato has for this program."
 
During her first as season at Kennesaw State, Head helped lead the Owls to a quarterfinal victory in the ASUN Conference Championship and advance to the semifinals. She was also instrumental in the development of Carlotta Gianolla, who was a unanimous selection as ASUN Conference Freshman of the Year.
 
Head's hard work as recruiting coordinator paid major dividends as Kennesaw State signed six talented individuals this past year, including Kamiyah Street, who was tabbed the Atlanta Journal Constitution's Georgia 6A Player of the Year after leading Mays High School to a state championship as a senior.
 
"Working with our student-athletes both on and off the court alongside Coach Berenato and the rest of the KSU women's basketball staff has been extremely rewarding," Head said. "Under the tutelage of Coach Berenato I have grown as a coach, mentor, and individual by leaps and bounds."
 
Entering her 10th year as a Division I coach, Head's coaching career includes tenures at Pitt, Middle Tennessee (2007-10) and Arkansas (2005-07).
 
"Khadija's knowledge is extensive, well expressed and detailed oriented," Berenato said. "She has done an amazing job as recruiting coordinator wherever she has been and has mastered the compliance paperwork that comes with that area.  Her maturity on the court allows me to have her coach the guards or the posts, while being my lead on scouting opponents.
 
"Khadija's best trait is her loyalty to not only me but to Kennesaw State, our student-athletes and our KSU Community," Berenato added. "I have known Khadija for over 20 years and watching her develop professionally and personally has been a joy for me to experience.  She continues, and is not afraid, to challenge me as an educator on and off the court, and I feel very fortunate to call her my associate head coach. "
 
Berenato's staff also includes assistant coaches Sherill Baker and Jania Sims, and director of basketball operations, Tiffany Webster.
 
Kennesaw State officially begins practice Oct. 2, and opens the 2017-18 season Nov. 10 at Clemson.
 
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State women's basketball news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsWBB or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook. Follow Coach Berenato on Twitter @KSUCoachB.   
   
 

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