Women's Basketball Coaching Staff

Karen Pinkos
Head Coach

Karen Pinkos was named the eighth head coach in the history of Southern New Hampshire University women's basketball on May 5, 2005.

A 1988 graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Pinkos spent the past nine years at Northeastern University and brings with her over 16 years of Division I coaching experience

"Karen's credentials are outstanding and we are very excited about her joining the Southern New Hampshire family," said Athletic Director Chip Polak. "Her experience coaching in the Big East and America East will serve her well in the highly competitive Northeast-10 Conference."

Pinkos made the most of her first season as head coach in 2005-06, as she led SNHU to its most successful season since 1991-92 and its first-ever appearance in the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament.  SNHU earned its spot in the post-season by winning four its final five games, including impressive wins over nationally-ranked Stonehill College and regionally-ranked Bentley College and Franklin Pierce College.

A native of Allenstown, N.H., Pinkos is faced with the challenge of rebuilding a program that has not enjoyed a winning season since 1991. Once considered one of the premier Division II programs in New England, SNHU advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament in 1988 and 1990, and claimed the ECAC Division II championship in 1991.

"I know I have my work cut out for me, but I think Southern New Hampshire University is an attractive and up-and-coming school," said Pinkos. "The groundwork has been set and there is no reason why we can't be more competitive in the Northeast-10."

Pinkos began her coaching career at the University of New Hampshire and also served as an assistant at Boston College and Providence College before joining the coaching staff at Northeastern in 1996. Recognized as one of the nation's top assistant coaches by Women's Basketball Journal in 2000, she helped guide Northeastern to an America East title and the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1999. Her recruiting success stories included five All-Rookie team selections and eight all-conference performers.

Pinkos was a four-year member of the women's basketball team at New Hampshire, served as a team captain her junior and senior year and collected first-team all-conference honors as senior. She was an all-state performer at Pembroke Academy and participated in the New Hampshire/Vermont Alhambra All-Star game following her senior year. She was inducted into the Pembroke Academy Hall of Fame in the summer of 2006.

"I am excited about the opportunity to come back home and have the support of my family and friends," said Pinkos.