Booker joins the Flames after spending the last decade as a NCAA Basketball official at the Division I, II, III, NAIA and Junior College levels, while additionally serving as an officials observer for six seasons. Booker also owns a diverse coaching background as well as a decorated collegiate career at Vanderbilt.
“Karen brings a tremendous amount of experience,” head coach Tasha Pointer said. “Experience from a head coach’s perspective, experience as an assistant coach, and life experience along with a wealth of knowledge from her most recent position as a referee. She is someone who has played at the highest level with USA Basketball, played in the WNBA, and is a superb teacher.”
The Nashville, Tenn. native saw action on the bench in the WNBA with the Detroit (now Tulsa) Shock, Utah Starzz and Houston Comets.
Prior to officiating, Booker spent two season with the Colorado Chill where she won a National Women’s Basketball League (NWBL) Championship as an assistant coach.
As a player, Booker was a standout, leaving her name scattered across the Vanderbilt record book. She ranks 10th all-time in points per game (12.8), second in steals (293) and rebounds (1,096), third in free throw attempts (641), seventh in free throws made (334), eighth in field goal attempts (1,347), and ninth in blocked shots (127). In her senior season, Booker was a First-Team All-SEC member and was named a Third-Team All American. In 1991, Booker won a gold medal representing the U.S. at the World University Games.
“Karen is an excellent teacher, relationship builder and strategist. She is always upbeat, energetic, and optimistic about the direction of life. I am really excited about her enthusiasm because she brings a different perspective to the program as a former collegiate All-American selection, USA Basketball participant, WNBA player, assistant coach and head coach. She has chosen to give back to the sport that has given so much to her as a youth director and collegiate official, and I believe she will do great things for this program.”
