Kate Lynch ’08 - a 2018 inductee into the Southern Connecticut State University Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame - is in her 13th season as head women's basketball coach at Southern Connecticut State University in 2025-26.
Enter the 2025-26 season, Lynch ranks third in career wins (144) and winning percentage (.545). Of note, Lynch guided the Owls to the 2017-18 NE10 Southwest Division Regular-Season Championship and also to the 2023-24 NE10 Championship Finals for just the second time in program history. In 2024-25, the Owls received an At-Large bid to the NCAA Regional and made their seventh appearance in program history.
A 2016 honoree of the WBCA's "Thirty Under 30" Award, Lynch guided the Owls to 52 wins over her first three seasons as head coach at her alma mater, three consecutive trips to the NE10 Tournament and one NCAA Tournament spot.
Her playing career at Southern Connecticut was arguably the finest in program history. A two-time All-American, Lynch remains the all-time leading scorer in Owls’ history (1,779 points) and ranks fifth all-time in rebounds (650). She also holds the career record for most field goals made (650) along with single-season records for games played, most field goals made, most field goals attempted, most free throws made and most points.
Lynch was a part of 103 victories over her four years at SCSU, including three NCAA Tournament appearances and two Northeast-10 Tournament titles. Known for elevating her play in big games, she posted four double-doubles during Southern’s run to the 2007 NCAA title, and averaged 21 points and 10.7 rebounds per game over its national quarterfinal, semifinal and final victories. Lynch was also named the Regional Player of the Year as a senior and the NE-10 Player of the Year as a junior.
She was inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in the spring of 2014 and the Northeast-10 Conference Hall of Fame later that summer. Lynch was also inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009.
The 2023-24 team finished the season with an overall record of 19-13. The Owls made an impressive run in the NE10 Tournament, as they advanced to the NE10 Championship game for the first time since 2012. Southern fell to Bentley in the championship; however, they finished the season with 11 straight games of holding a team under 60 points. Katie Williamson was named to the NE10 All-Conference Second Team.
The 2022-23 team had a overall record of 17-11, and made it to the NE10 Tournament Quarterfinals, where they lost to Assumption. Zoë Amalbert was named to the NE10 All-Conference Second Team and to the NE10 Academic All-Conference Team. In addition, Amalbert, Delaney Connors, Alexa Kellner and Katie Williamson were all named to the CSC Academic All-District Team.
The 2021-22 team finished the season with a 13-14 record, as they advanced all the way to the NE10 Tournament Semifinals for the first time since the 2017-18 season and lost a heartbreaker to Stonehill College. Jessica Fressle was named to the NE10 All-Conference Second Team and to the NE10 All-Championship Team.
The 2020-21 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2019-20 season saw the Owls win 10 games. Two Owls garnered year-end honors from the conference as Imani Wheeler took home NE10 Defensive Player of the Year, while Alexa Kellner was tabbed to the All-Rookie team. In addition, Wheeler and Jessica Fressle were named First Team All-ECAC. Fressle was also named to the NE10 Women's Basketball Academic All-Conference team.
The 2018-19 squad reached the NE10 quarterfinals, but fell to Merrimack, who moved up to Division I the following season. Two Owls were tabbed with NE10 year-end honors as Kiana Steinauer earned First Team and Amanda Pfohl was an All-Conference Honorable Mention. Steinauer also garnered D2CCA All-America and All-East Region honors, in addition to being featured on NCAA.com's "Starting Five" three times during the season.
The Owls won 21 games in the 2017-18 season - including a win over Division I Rhode Island - and qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Abby Hurlbert earned All-Conference and All-ECAC honors, while Kiana Steinauer was also recognized for her play by the NE10. Hurlbert and Murad were also selected to the NE10 Women's Basketball All-Academic Team.
The 2016-17 squad reached the NE10 quarterfinals and finished with a dozen wins. Two Owls were recognized with year-end honors for their play on the court, with two also named to the NE10 Women's Basketball All-Academic Team.
She guided the Owls to 19 victories and a berth in the semifinals of the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament during her inaugural season on the SCSU sidelines. Two student-athletes earned year-end honors from the NE-10 for their play on the court as well.
The all-time leading scorer in the history of the Southern Connecticut State University women’s basketball program, Lynch was introduced as the Owls head coach on June 29, 2015 by Director of Athletics Jay Moran in a press conference at the Michael J. Adanti Student Center.
Lynch has enjoyed success as a coach at the Division I, II and III levels, along with the junior college ranks, since the conclusion of her playing career at SCSU.
She spent the 2014-15 season as the head coach at Molloy College. She guided the Lions to 11 victories during that season, including a triumph over No. 10 nationally ranked Tampa.
Her three years prior to Molloy were spent as the head coach at the Community College of Rhode Island, where Lynch led the Knights to three straight Region XXI regular season titles. She was named the 2013 National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association’s National Coach of the Year after a 25-win campaign and a District N Championship.
Lynch started her foray into coaching as the Director of Basketball Operations at Fairfield University, where she worked alongside her former coach at SCSU, Joe Frager. She also spent a year as an assistant coach at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Lynch holds a bachelor’s degree in exercise science/human performance from SCSU and went on to earn a master’s degree in sports management from Lasell College in 2014.
Lynch and her husband, David, reside in Branford with their daughter, Saylor, and son, Jack.
