Kristin Caruso is in her first year as the new women’s basketball head coach at Longwood University during 2007-08. She is a Richmond native, 1986 graduate of Hermitage High School (Kristin Lamb), and a former four-year standout at the University of Connecticut (1986-90). Caruso has served as the associate head coach at the University of Hartford for the past five seasons (2002-07). Hartford had won consecutive America East Conference Tournament championships (2005-06) while making two NCAA Tournament appearances, including a first-round win over Temple in 2006, before finishing 25-9 this year en route to the second round of the post-season WNIT.
Caruso helped lead Hartford to a five-year record of 99-55 overall, including 57-27 in the America East, while working with Hawks head coach Jennifer Rizzotti -- also a former Connecticut standout and graduate (1992-96). Caruso’s responsibilities at Hartford included recruiting coordination and game scheduling, practice organization, game day preparation (opponent/film scouting) and administrative duties, player development, and she also served as director of the Hartford summer girls basketball camp. The Hawks won the past two regular-season America East titles (2006-07), finishing 15-1 in league play each year.
Prior to Hartford, Caruso was the head coach at Marist College for four years (1998-2002, 32-79) after assistant coaching positions at Marist (1997-98), Duquesne University (1993-96), and her alma mater, UConn (1990-93), under veteran head coach Geno Auriemma. While head coach at Marist, she was responsible for all aspects of managing a Division I program with oversight of the annual operational budget as well. Caruso was the recruiting coordinator at both Marist and Duquesne while assisting with recruiting at UConn as well. She also served as the Executive Director of the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Camp during 1996-97, responsible for all aspects of operation for the approximate 1,800 participants during the six-week summer period with revenue generation of over $700,000.
Caruso earned her bachelor of science degree in education from Connecticut in 1990, and her masters degree in education from UConn in 2000. A four-year standout for the Huskies, she was the 1987 Big East Freshman of the Year as well as a three-time All-Big East selection (1987, 1989-90) while scoring 1,244 career points (sixth all-time upon her graduation, 21st currently). Caruso was also a two-year team co-captain (1989-90) and helped UConn to a pair of Big East Conference regular-season titles (1989-90) as well as the Big East Tournament championship in 1989. Additionally, she received the Outstanding Senior Athlete Award by the UConn Club in 1990. As an assistant coach at her alma mater, she was part of three NCAA Tournament teams (1991-93) that included the 1991 squad reaching the Final Four.
Caruso and her husband, Joe, have twin sons, Robert and Joseph, born October 2006.
