Karen Blair knew interviewing to be a Maryland women’s basketball assistant coach would be a rigorous process. Sitting across from coach Brenda Frese in early 2018, Blair had one goal — to authentically be herself.
“I just went into that interview … and it was like, ‘This is your shot,’” she said.
Sequestered in the coaching equivalent of an interrogation room, Blair was sent reeling by a simple question. Why was her Instagram account private?
“I knew the interview got done at 4 [p.m.], and I said, ‘Well, I’ll tell you this. At 4:15, my Instagram will no longer be private,’” Blair recalled.
It was good enough for Frese. A tight knit, seven-year partnership blossomed between the veteran coach and budding assistant in College Park — one that would help pave the way for Blair’s move to Georgia Tech as a head coach in April.
Maryland won two Big Ten tournament titles and posted five 25-win seasons in that span. Much of the success, Frese said, was due to Blair’s skill in building relationships.
But Blair didn’t consider being a coach at first.
The 5-foot-7 point guard played for Southern Methodist University her entire undergraduate career. Blair, a 1997-98 All-WAC honoree, averaged more than eight points and nearly four assists in 118 games.
Blair briefly parted from basketball to work at PepsiCo after she earned a business administration and marketing degree. But she quickly got a call from her former coach Rhonda Rompola.
“Hey, would you like to coach?” Blair recalled Rompola asking. “I thought about it that night and I never looked back.”
[Front court issues, injuries riddled Maryland women’s basketball’s 2024-25 season]
While on the Mustang sidelines for a decade, Blair doubled as an assistant coach and, by her own admission, a practice player well into her early 30s.
Shortened coaching stints at Colgate, Texas-Arlington, North Texas and VCU preceded Blair’s transition to Maryland, which she dubbed an opportunity of a lifetime.
Blair’s jump to Big Ten basketball as the Terps’ recruiting coordinator was a luxury and a challenge at first. Blair adjusted from finding overlooked talent at mid-major schools to competing with top programs for elite prospects.
The Terps’ priority was to find players that would best represent Maryland’s family-oriented culture, Blair said.
The Terps’ recruiting staff identified Shyanne Sellers as a possible fit early, when she was nearly in high school. Blair said she quickly recognized that she had found a potentially program-altering talent.
Years later, Sellers graduated as the first player in Maryland women’s basketball history to log 1,500 career points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists.
Other players, such as Saylor Poffenbarger, were handpicked as transfer talent. The 6-foot-2 guard spent time at Connecticut and Arkansas before making the move to Maryland ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
Blair met the Maryland native during her time at Middletown High School and made an effort to reopen communication last spring.
“She came in, took the time to be intentional and ground me,” Poffenbarger said. “It’s kind of hard not to believe in yourself when you have a coach like her.”
[Golden State Valkyries select Shyanne Sellers with No. 17 pick in WNBA draft]
Relationship-building has always been central to Blair’s coaching approach, including helping athletes achieve their goals and supporting their endeavors.
It’s a strength that led to an unexpected Zoom call during the COVID-19 pandemic where Frese officially promoted Blair to associate head coach.
“For me, it was a big moment of validation that I was doing things the right way, and I was at the right place with the right people,” Blair said.
The newfound trust was on full display when Frese temporarily put Blair in charge of the program after Frese’s father died in January 2022.
“We never missed a beat,” Frese said.
Blair credits Frese for fostering trust, mentorship and a culture of growth — something she valued deeply. After Maryland’s Sweet 16 loss to South Carolina, Blair knew it would take the perfect opportunity to leave.
That came a week later, when Georgia Tech offered her its head coach position while she was on her way to the Final Four for speaking engagements. She quickly told Frese.
Her potential to grow into a trusted leader is what her biggest mentor, Frese, identified when first recruiting Blair.
“She really connected people and really valued each and every person in our program,” Frese said. “Her pedigree spoke for itself.”
