Keila Whittington enters her sixth season as head women's basketball coach in 2024-25 after being named the eighth head coach in program history on April 24, 2019.
Saint Francis Fifth Season (2023-24)
In her fifth season, Saint Francis finished 5-25 overall and 4-12 in conference play. The Red Flash earned a spot in the NEC Tournament and fell to eventual NEC Champion Sacred Heart, 78-48 on March 11.
The 2023-24 season featured a 69-59 non-conference victory over Morgan State on Dec. 2. Saint Francis also handed Le Moyne one of its two conference losses of the season with a 55-52 victory on Jan. 21. The Red Flash won back-to-back games over LIU 61-56 on Feb. 3 and Wagner 76-60 on Feb. 15.
Under Coach Whittington’s Guidance
Kendall Carruthers
- Finished 16th among NCAA Division I freshmen with 14.3 points per game.
- NEC Rookie of the Year, First Team All-NEC and NEC All-Rookie Team.
Kameryn Dorsey
Ranked 14th among Division I freshmen with 3.4 assists per game.
Saint Francis Fourth Season (2022-23)
In her fourth season, Saint Francis finished 7-22 overall and 6-10 in conference play. Saint Francis nearly won its first NEC Tournament game under Whittington after a 66-60 loss in the quarterfinals to Merrimack.
The Red Flash had its biggest win of the season 74-56 over St. Francis Brooklyn, who eventually finished top-four in the conference, on Feb. 16. Saint Francis also swept its first-ever season series over Stonehill with a 56-52 win on Jan. 6 and 71-70 overtime win on Feb. 2. In the Jan. 6 game, Saint Francis only committed five turnovers, which was tied for the second-fewest in single-game program history.
NCAA Stats
- Aaliyah Moore: 17th in rebounds per game (10.2), 42nd in total rebounds (295).
Team Stats (NEC Games Only)
- 1st in opponent rebounds per game (32.0)
- 2nd in rebounding margin (+4.9)
- 3rd in rebounds per game (36.9), defensive rebounds per game (24.9)
- 5th in offensive rebounds per game (12.1), opponent three-point field goal percentage (31.9)
Under Coach Whittington’s Guidance
Aaliyah Moore
- 295 rebounds this season (10th in single-season program history)
- Second Team All-NEC
Semaya Turner
Saint Francis Third Season (2021-22)
In her third season, Whittington led Saint Francis to an 8-22 overall and 8-10 conference record. The Red Flash had a season-long winning streak of five games from a 66-50 win over LIU on Jan. 8 to a 69-66 overtime win over Sacred Heart on Jan. 23.
Saint Francis had notable wins over eventual NEC Tournament Champion Mount St. Mary's 70-58 on Jan. 29 and 70-56 over NEC Regular Season Champion Fairleigh Dickinson on Feb. 11. The Red Flash entered the NEC Tournament as the No. 6 seed and fell in the quarterfinals to No. 3 Mount St. Mary's, 69-53.
NCAA Stats
- Jada Dapaa: 3rd in rebounds per game (12.6), 5th in total rebounds (378), 44th in double doubles (12)
Team Stats (NEC Games Only)
- 1st in rebounding margin (+7.1), rebounds against per game (26.7)
- 2nd in rebounds per game (33.8), offensive rebounds per game (11.4)
- 4th in free throw percentage (.742), field goal percentage defense (.399), three-point field goal percentage (.329)
- 5th in assist/turnover ratio (0.8)
Under Coach Whittington’s Guidance
Jada Dapaa
- 378 rebounds this season (Single-season program record)
- 755 career rebounds (9th in program history)
- NEC Defensive Player of the Year
- NEC Most Improved Player
- First Team All-NEC
Lili Benzel
- 473 three-point field goals attempted (8th in program history)
- 146 three-point field goals made (9th in program history)
Kaitlyn Maxwell
- .405 three-point field goal percentage this season (8th in single-season program history)
Saint Francis Second Season (2020-21)
Whittington led Saint Francis to a 14-9 record in 2020-21, including a 12-4 mark in conference play. Saint Francis put together an 11-game winning streak that started with a 67-64 win against Kent State on Dec. 9 and lasted through a 56-55 win at St. Francis Brooklyn on Feb. 13 – the third-longest win streak in program history.
The Red Flash began conference play with nine-straight wins, which marked their best NEC start since the 2003-04 season. Saint Francis reached the NEC Tournament Semifinals after earning the No. 3 seed, eventually falling at No. 2 Wagner.
NCAA Stats
- 5th in team free throw percentage (.791)
- Karson Swogger: 22nd in free throw percentage (.872)
- Katie Dettwiller: T-42nd in blocks (38)
Team Stats (NEC Games Only)
- 1st in free throw percentage (.810) and defensive rebounds per game (27.1)
- 2nd in scoring offense (64.8 points per game), rebounding margin (+2.6), blocks per game (4.1) and offensive rebound percentage (.323)
- 3rd in field goal percentage (.420), three-point percentage (.338), field goal defense (.378), scoring margin (+3.4), rebounding defense (35.3 per game)
- 4th in rebounding offense (37.9 per game)
- 5th in scoring defense (61.4 points per game) and three-point defense (.311)
Under Coach Whittington’s Guidance
Karson Swogger
- 1,175 career points (17th in program history)
- 178 career three point shots made (7th in program history)
- 553 career three point shot attempts (6th in program history)
- .861 free-throw percentage this season (5th in single-season program history)
- 1st Team All-NEC
- Women’s Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year
Katie Dettwiller
- 76 blocks (T-8th in program history)
Haley Thomas
- 599 career rebounds (14th in program history)
Saint Francis First Season (2019-20)
In her first season with the Red Flash, Whittington led the Red Flash to an 11-19 overall record and 9-9 record in the Northeast Conference. Saint Francis earned a No. 4 seed for the NEC playoffs.
Team Stats (NEC Games Only)
- 2nd in field goal percentage (.395), free throw percentage (.735), defensive rebounds per game (26.9)
- 3rd in rebounding margin (+1.7), defensive rebounding percentage (.706)
Karson Swogger
- 3rd Team All-NEC
- Women’s Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year
Marist Assistant Coach (2016-19)
Whittington came to Loretto with a wealth of experience in the coaching ranks, including most recently in her second stint at Marist College, where she served as the assistant coach from 2016-19. In 2018, the Red Foxes finished with a 20-14 record and included an appearance in the WNIT First Round.
Memphis Associate Head Coach (2012-13)
Whittington served as the staff liaison with the academic advising office, was responsible for post player development and assisted with recruiting activities, amongst other responsibilities, while at Memphis. The Tigers had an appearance in the WNIT First Round.
Oregon Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator (2009-12)
Whittington took advantage of an opportunity to work with renowned former NBA and WNBA Champion Head Coach, Paul Westhead, at the University of Oregon. She served three seasons at Oregon where she organized all recruiting activities and assisted with practice and game plan preparation and scouting. In 2011, the Ducks had the 49th best recruiting class in the country by ESPN HoopGurlz. In 2010, Oregon had a 20-16 record and finished in the WNIT third round (Elite 8).
Marist Assistant Coach (2007-09)
In her first stint as a member of Marist’s coaching staff, Whittington assisted with recruiting, spearheaded post player development, and assisted with practice and game plan preparation and scouting, amongst other responsibilities.
- 2009: NCAA Tournament First Round appearance and ranked 20th in the country, the Red Foxes’ highest ranking in an AP Poll.
- 2009: MAAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions, finished with a 29-4 record.
- 2008: NCAA Tournament Second Round appearance and first postseason ranking in the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll.
- 2008: MAAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions, finished the regular season ranked 22nd in the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll.
- 2008: Finished 32-3 overall and 18-0 in MAAC regular season play, their first MAAC undefeated regular season.
Penn State Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator (2001-07)
Whittington spent six seasons as an assistant coach at Penn State. She assisted with post player development, served as a supervisor for a number of different camps and clinics, and participated in numerous community service functions with the program.
Recruiting:
- 2007: Recruiting class ranked 22nd in the country by Blue Star Basketball.
- 2006: Signed Miss Ohio Basketball, who won a state championship.
- 2005: Signed three Pennsylvania multi-state champions.
- 2003: Recruiting class ranked 13th in the country by All-Star Girls Report
- 2003: Listed as a top-five Recruiting Coordinator in the country by All-Star Girls Report
Team Accomplishments:
- 2005: NCAA Tournament First Round
- 2004: NCAA Tournament Elite Eight, Big Ten Conference Champions
- 2003: NCAA Sweet Sixteen, Big Ten Conference Champions
- 2002: NCAA Sweet Sixteen
University of South Alabama Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, (2000-2001)
Spent one season at South Alabama, where she assisted the Jaguars to 13 wins, their most in 10 seasons, and their first Sun Belt Conference Tournament win in school history.
Indiana Assistant Coach (1995-2000)
From 1995-2000, Whittington was an assistant at Indiana, also serving as the Hoosiers' recruiting coordinator from 1998-2000. In her final two seasons, the Indiana recruiting class ranked 6th in the country by All-Star Girls Report. In 1998, the Hoosiers finished in the WNIT Preseason and Postseason Semifinals. While with the Hoosiers, she served as assistant coach on the Big Ten All-Star Tour in 1997, traveling to Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
Rhode Island Assistant Coach (1993-95)
Whittington was an assistant at Rhode Island for two seasons, and was promoted to top assistant and recruiting coordinator in 1995.
Delaware Graduate Assistant (1991-93)
In 1991, Whittington began her collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at Delaware, where she coached for two seasons.
Education
Whittington is a 1989 graduate of Dillard University in New Orleans. At Dillard, Whittington earned a bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education and then went on to receive her M.A. in Physical Education from Delaware in 1993.
Community Involvement
- Founder/Facilitator, “The Gathering” (Bible Study), 2017-present
- Lector, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 2013-present
- Mission Trip Coordinator-New Orleans, St. Thomas More Newman Center, 2011
- Adult Leader, Regina Coeli Youth Group, 2008-09
- Mentor, FastStart Mentoring Program, 2003-07
- Lector and Eucharistic Minister, Penn State Catholic Community, 2001-07
- Mentor, FASE Mentoring Program, 1996-2000
- Lector, Christ the King Parish, 1993-95
- A native of Louisiana, Whittington has a wealth of community involvement. She organized a supply relief drive consisting of non-perishable food items, water and toys which was sent to St. Bernard Parish in Chalmette, La., just outside of New Orleans, to benefit those suffering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina.
What They Had to Say About Keila Whittington
"I'd like to congratulate Saint Francis on the hiring of Keila Whittington as their Head Women's Basketball Coach. Our loss is their tremendous gain. They are getting a tireless worker who will be a tremendous role model and brilliant tactician for their program. Also, she fits perfectly with the core values and mission of Saint Francis. They will soon find out that Keila Whittington is a great coach, but an even better person." –
Marist Head Women's Basketball Coach Brian Giorgis
"I'm thrilled for Keila and for the Saint Francis University women's basketball program! In her five years at Marist, Keila has always worked hard, and has been extremely loyal to our basketball program. She has always been a consummate professional in anything she has done with our basketball program, across campus, and within our community. We will miss her at Marist, but we're excited for this opportunity that she truly deserves. I'm confident she will do a terrific job." –
Marist Director of Athletics Tim Murray
"Keila is a great coach and a better person. I expect that Saint Francis will be really pleased with the results on the court and I know they will be really proud of the kind of program she will run." –
Marist President David Yellen
