Kaitlyn Lewis Takes the Helm as Head Coach of Lady Royals Basketball

Kaitlyn Lewis has cherished memories from her childhood, watching University of Scranton women’s basketball games at the John Long Center and participating in the Lady Royals Basketball Camp. “I remember Mike Strong and Deanna Klingman had some really great camps when I was a kid going to them,” Lewis reflected. “It was nice being around such a successful program and looking up to players of that caliber as a young kid.” Now, she is set to lead that very program.

On Tuesday, the University of Scranton announced Lewis as the new head coach for the Lady Royals, marking her as the ninth individual to hold this position. She succeeds Ben O’Brien, who departed in April after an impressive four-year tenure that included a remarkable 117-7 record to take a coaching role at Division I Lafayette College.

“I am so excited to be joining such a great group,” Lewis expressed. “The Lady Royals have so much history and tradition, so to be able to be a part of it and lead the program is like a dream come true. I’m pumped to keep it going and build on everything the coaches before me have built as far as success and culture.” With deep ties to the area, Lewis emphasized her personal connection to Scranton, stating, “It’s got a really big soft spot in my heart. Honestly, I could not be any happier.”

A graduate of North Pocono High School in 2015, Lewis previously served as an assistant coach at Scranton from 2019 to 2022. During her time there, the Lady Royals captured three Landmark Conference titles and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2022. She played a crucial role in recruiting current standout players and aided in the development of All-Americans Bridget Monaghan and Abby Anderson.

Before returning to Scranton, Lewis honed her coaching skills at Lehigh University, American University, and Rider University, where she was recognized as a WBCA Top Thirty Under 30 coach. “I had the opportunity to learn from so many different people, so many different head coaches,” she noted, reflecting on her growth and preparation for her first head coaching position.

Lewis steps into this role with the Lady Royals coming off a stellar 32-1 season, having achieved their 11th consecutive Landmark Conference title and finishing as the NCAA Division III runner-up. She acknowledges the challenge ahead, stating, “There’s no other way to say it or put it. I’m just going to try to attack each day the best that I can and put players and people in situations where they can be as successful as possible.” Prior to her coaching career, Lewis had a notable playing career at American University, leading her team to significant victories and earning a spot in the NCAA tournament.