Women's Basketball
- Title :
- Assistant Coach
- E-Mail:
- kelly.komara@marquette.edu
- Phone:
- 288-5784
- Experience :
- Purdue, 2002
- Alma Mater:
- Second Year
The 2022-23 season marked the second at Marquette University for assistant coach Kelly Komara, who joined Coach Duffy's staff in the summer of 2021.
A specialist in guard play and development, Komara has helped lead a strong backcourt unit in her first two seasons with the Golden Eagles. In 2022-23, she aided the development of All-BIG EAST First Team unanimous selection Jordan King. King had an outstanding season, averaging 15.9 points and 4.0 assists per game, ranking in the league's top-10 in both categories.Â
She also played a vital role in coaching the backcourt duo of Mackenzie Hare and Emily La Chapell to recognition on the BIG EAST All-Freshman Team, the first Marquette duo to do so since Natisha Hiedeman and Allazia Blockton in 2015-16.Â
Marquette once again ranked as one of the most efficient offenses in the BIG EAST, averaging 16.5 assists per game with a 1.22 assist/turnover ratio.Â
in 2021-22. Karissa McLaughlin had one of the top 3-point shooting seasons in program history hitting 87 triples and connecting at a 41.6 percent (87-of-209) clip, marks which ranked third and fifth in program history, respectively. Jordan King also continued her development as one of the top point guards in the BIG EAST, leading the team and ranking fourth in the league with 4.4 assists per game while boasting a 1.52 assist-to-turnover ratio. She also had the best scoring season of her career, averaging 11.5 points per outing.
As a team, the Golden Eagles ranked among the nation's elite in ball movement and passing efficiency. They averaged 18.0 assists per game to rank eighth in the NCAA, while holding a 1.21 assist/turnover ratio. Additionally, MU ranked near the top of the league in both field goal percentage (.435) and 3-point field goal percentage (.345).
Komara came to MU after spending the previous five seasons at Vanderbilt University as an associate head coach (2018-21) and assistant coach (2016-18).
Komara has proven herself to be an exceptional recruiter and developer of talent. From 2017-19, she helped sign three consecutive recruiting classes that ranked in the top-20 nationally. In her five years at Vandy, she recruited and coached seven SEC All-Conference selections, notably helping Chelsie Hall to a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team in 2017-18. In 2019-20, Jordyn Cambridge led the league in steals and earned SEC All-Defensive team honors.
In 2019-20 Komara oversaw the first Commodore duo to post more than 100 assists apiece in nearly a decade. Hall led the team with 117 assists, while Cambridge became the first Vanderbilt player with 100+ assists (105) and 80+ steals (85) in a season in over two decades. Komara also served as the team's defensive coordinator, director of non-conference scheduling, head of scouting and the liaison to the strength and conditioning coach.
Prior to her time in Nashville, Komara served two-year stints as an assistant coach at both Purdue (2014-16) and Albany (2012-14). She helped lead Purdue to a 20-12 (10-8 B1G) record in 2015-16 and an NCAA tournament berth. She coached four All-B1G honorees and brought in the ninth ranked recruiting class in 2015. In her two years at Albany, she helped the team to two NCAA tournament berths while achieving a combined 55-9 (32-1 America East) record. She recruited and developed 14 all-league selections, including two players of the year and a defensive player of the year.
Komara has also worked at Valparaiso, Auburn and Northwestern in a variety of roles.
Playing Career
In 2002, she was drafted in the WNBA third round by the Indiana Fever and played professionally for the Grand Rapids Blizzards in the National Women’s Basketball League. Komara also played professionally for Panathinaikos Basketball club in Athens, Greece.
Komara graduated as one of seven players in Purdue history to have at least 1,000 points, 400 assists and 200 steals in their career. She was the most outstanding player for the 2001 NCAA Mideast Regional and earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2002. A three-time All-Big Ten honoree, Komara was a first-team selection in 2002 and earned honorable mention recognition as a sophomore and junior. She was also granted the prestigious Mackey Award and Varsity Walk Award as a senior by the Purdue administration.Â
Komara finished as Purdue’s all-time leader in single-season steals with 120 in 2002. She also ranked No. 12 on Purdue’s all-time scoring list (1,266 career points), No. 3 in career steals (297), No. 5 in career made threes (137), and No. 8 in career assists (402) at the time of her graduation.Â
A native of Schererville, Indiana, and standout at Lake Central High, Komara was named Indiana’s Miss Basketball after averaging 21.5 points per game as a senior.
Komara earned her bachelor’s degree in physical education from Purdue University in 2002. She went on to receive her master’s degree in higher education and sports management from Auburn in 2006.
Komara and her wife, Jenn, have two children, Kennedy and Hudson.
The Komara File
• Assistant, Marquette (2021-Present)
• Associate Head Coach, Vanderbilt, (2018-21)
• Assistant, Vanderbilt (2016-18)
• Assistant, Purdue (2014-16)
• Assistant, Albany (2012-14)
• Assistant, Valparaiso (2010-12)
• Video Coordinator, Auburn (2007-10)
• Assistant, Northwestern (2006-07)
• Graduate Assistant, Auburn (2004-06)
• Won 1999 NCAA national championship at Purdue
• 2002 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year
• Three-time All-Big Ten selection
• Purdue’s single-season leader in steals with 1230 steals in 2002
• Indiana’s Miss Basketball (1998)
