Kate Glusko begins her first season as head coach for women’s basketball at Francis Marion University.
Glusko, 25, was introduced as the university’s new head coach on May 31, replacing Heather Macy, who left FMU to accept the head coaching position at East Carolina University after three seasons on the Patriot bench. Glusko is the 11th head coach in the storied history of the Francis Marion program, and the youngest new coach since Sylvia Rhyne Hatchell took over the coaching reins as a 23-year-old in 1975.
The State College, Pa., native comes to Francis Marion after two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Gannon University in Erie, Pa. This past season, the Lady Knights were 37-1, advanced to the NCAA Division II Final Four, and ended the year ranked second in the national Top 25 poll. The 37 victories set a Division II record for wins in a season and most consecutive wins (37) in a single season. Gannon also won the PSAC championship and was ranked No. 1 for six weeks.
In 2008-09, Gannon was 26-5, advanced to the round of Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament, was ranked 20th in the final Top 25 poll, and was 12th in the WBCA Top 25 Honor Roll with a 3.497 team grade point average.
Prior to joining the Lady Knights’ staff, Glusko served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Concord University for two seasons. Concord posted records of 20-9 in 2007-08 and 21-9 in 2006-07, the first time the program registered back-to-back 20-win seasons.
During her four seasons as an assistant coach, she helped develop two All-Americans, 14 All-Conference selections, and seven players who reached the 1,000-point plateau. Her teams posted a combined 104-24 record.
Glusko is a 2006 graduate of West Virginia University, where she earned the bachelor of business administration degree in management (cum laude). As a 5-10 guard, she played on the 2003-04 WVU squad that was 21-11 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament and the 2004-05 team that was 21-13 and appeared in the championship game of the WNIT. She suffered season-ending injuries as a freshman and senior. In the classroom, Glusko was a two-time Big East Academic All-Star and a four-time WVU Athletic Director honor roll member.
She later earned the master’s of education degree in behavioral science while at Concord.
She is a product of State College (Pa.) High School, where she was a two-time All-State performer. She set the school’s all-time scoring record with 1,630 points, while scoring in double figures 60 consecutive games and leading the Lady Little Lions to an 85-22 record and four straight appearances in the Pennsylvania State Quad-A Championships. At State College High School, Glusko led the Lady Little Lions to an 85-22 record, four straight appearances in the Pennsylvania State Quad-A Championships, and two District VI Quad-A championships. She also set school records for points in a season (634) and game (43) and highest single-season scoring average (21.1).
Her accolades also included 2002 District VI Quad-A Player of the Year, McDonald’s All-America nominee, 2001 Street and Smith’s All-American, 2001 USA Today Player to Watch, and 1999 WBCA/Reebok Underclassman All-American.
Glusko is a member of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
The Francis Marion program has an all-time record of 750-354 in 37 seasons. The Patriots have captured two national championships, the 1982 AIAW Division II title and the 1986 NAIA title, and also advanced to the 1998 NCAA Division II Final Four. The program made five straight NCAA Division II Tournament appearances between 1997 and 2001, in addition to appearances each of the past three seasons.
Kate Glusko and FMU director of athletics
Murray Hartzler
Tim Wilson, a native of Ayden, N.C., enters his first season on the Francis Marion University bench as an assistant coach.
His primary responsibilities with the Patriots will include recruiting, on-floor coaching, individual player workouts, pre- and post-season workouts, and helping in the area of academic support for team members.
Wilson is a 2001 graduate of High Point University, where he earned a B.S. degree in business administration. He played two seasons on the Panthers basketball squad, appearing in 44 contests, and gaining Big South Conference All-Academic Team honors in both 2000 and 2001. He also attended The Citadel for two years prior to transferring to High Point.
He was as an assistant coach at High Point Central High School during the 2009-10 season. He previously served as head boys’ varsity coach at Wesleyan Christian Academy (in High Point) for the 2008-09 campaign and was the school’s girls’ varsity head coach from 2005 through 2008, while also assisting with the boys’ program.
For the past five years, Wilson has been the event coordinator for Hoops and Dreams, an organization responsible for putting on team and individual showcase tournaments. He has worked as a coach/instructor at several camps, including the Campbell University Individual Camp, Prep All-Star Showcase Camp (three years), and the Elon Elite Camp.
On the business side, he has worked with Liberty Hardware in Winston-Salem, N.C., for the past eight-and-a-half years.
He is a member of the Women's Basketball Coaching Association.
Lauren Casey, a native of Raleigh, N.C., enters her first season on the Francis Marion University bench as an assistant coach.
Her primary responsibilities with the Patriots will include recruiting, on-floor coaching, individual player workouts, pre- and post-season workouts, and helping in the area of academic support for team members.
Casey is a 2010 graduate of Lees-McRae College, where she earned her undergraduate degree in sports management. While in Banner Elk, she was a two-time All-Conference Carolinas performer for the Lady Bobcats’ basketball squad. As a senior, she was co-captain of the team and averaged 12.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.
She was also a two-time Academic All-Conference selection.
Prior to transferring to Lees-McRae, she also attended Lenoir-Rhyne College for two years where she played basketball (2006-07, 2007-08) and was a member of the track and field squad (2008).
Casey was afforded the opportunity to attend the 2010 WBCA’s “So You Want To Be A Coach” program in San Antonio, Texas. She has also been a member of the USA Elite semi-pro team in the Women’s Blue Chip League.
She has served as a volunteer coach at Avery High School in Newland, N.C., and has worked as a coach/instructor at several camps: Donald Williams Basketball Academy, Leesville Road High School Girls Basketball Camp, and North Ridge Basketball Academy.
