Click here to view the press conference on the OVC Digital Network
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – She has nine years of experience as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Vanderbilt University, 19 seasons of experience in the tough Southeastern Conference as a player and coach, and 21 seasons overall in women's college basketball.
Those credentials, coupled with a resume stuffed with success on the court, in the classroom, and on the recruiting trail, have led to Kim Rosamond being selected as the perfect fit to take the reins of the tradition-rich Tennessee Tech women's basketball program.
Rosamond was named Thursday as the head coach for the Golden Eagles, the announcement coming from Director of Athletics Mark Wilson.
"Kim has proven herself to be a winner, and we feel fortunate to get an accomplished, dynamic coach to lead our women's basketball program," Wilson said. "She is truly a professional, and the right fit to lead our program at this time. She displays high character, has proven to be a great educator of the game of basketball, and we look forward to her carrying on the traditions of academic excellence and winning championships."
Rosamond replaces Jim Davis, who retired following the 2015-16 season.
"I am truly honored and humbled to be only the sixth head coach of Tennessee Tech Women's Basketball," Rosamond said. "Over the last 13 years, the state of Tennessee has become my home. It is a dream come true to be able to stay home and lead a program with the standard of excellence and rich tradition of Golden Eagle basketball.
"I would like to thank Dr. Oldham and Mark Wilson, as well as everyone involved in the process, for believing in me and giving me the chance to work with a tremendous group of young women," she said. "Our players will understand the responsibility that comes with wearing Tennessee Tech on their chest, and we will work relentlessly on and off the court to make our university, alumni, and the Cookeville community proud."
This past season, her ninth on the Vanderbilt staff, Rosamond helped the Commodores post an 18-14 overall record, including a pair of victories over Top 25 teams, beating No. 12 Kentucky and No 24 Missouri. Vanderbilt also recorded two wins in the SEC Tournament.
Hired at Vanderbilt before the 2007-08 season, she has consistently helped the Commodores land highly-rated signing classes. Those highly decorated player have enabled Vanderbilt to maintain its status as one of the nation's top women's basketball programs.
Rosamond arrived at Vanderbilt with 10 years of SEC experience as a player and coach under her belt, and her contributions to the Commodore staff have included a wide variety of duties, ranging from scouting to player development to on-court strategy.
The recruiting classes that Rosamond has helped coordinate have been ranked among the nation's best each year since she took on the role. The 2016 signing class was ranked No. 7 by Blue Star Report and No. 10 by Prospects Nation. Among her other signing groups, the 2014 Vanderbilt recruiting class earned a No. 9 national ranking according to Blue Star Report and the 2013 signing class helped Vanderbilt earn its 15th consecutive berth in the NCAA Tournament at the end of the 2013-14 season.
Before her post at Vanderbilt, Rosamond spent two seasons on the staff at Middle Tennessee as an assistant coach from 2003-05, and served as the interim head coach for one month in 2005. During her tenure in Murfreesboro, the Lady Raiders had consecutive 24-win seasons while capturing a pair of Sun Belt Conference championships and a pair of first-round NCAA Tournament upsets over North Carolina and North Carolina State.
Rosamond spent five years as an assistant at her alma mater, Ole Miss, prior to her time at MTSU. She was added to the staff in 1998 just months after graduating with a degree in journalism and advertising, and following four seasons on the Rebel roster. She was promoted to recruiting coordinator in 2001.
Rosamond was responsible for bringing a pair of Top 50 classes to Oxford. Two Tennessee Miss Basketball selections were included in her Lady Rebel classes, with her final group of signees having reached the NCAA Elite Eight in 2007.
Rosamond attended high school at Winston Academy in Louisville, Miss., where she was recruited to Ole Miss and became a four-year letterwinner for the Lady Rebels (1995-98). Following her senior year, Rosamond was the recipient of the team's Lady Rebel Award, which is given to the player who excels on and off the court.
As a student-athlete at Ole Miss, Rosamond was the first Lady Rebel to earn All-SEC Academic honors in all four years of her collegiate career.
Rosamond will be introduced to Tennessee Tech fans at a press conference and welcome reception Thursday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. in the Eagles' Nest of the Eblen Center. The press conference will be streamed live on the OVC Digital Network.