Women's Basketball
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Phone:
- 494.0605
In just two short campaigns, Gearlds has begun the process to return Purdue Women's Basketball back to the national stage. Establishing a new culture, revamping recruiting and reconnecting with the alumnae and fan bases, Gearlds has the Boilermakers headed in the right direction.
YEARLY CAPSULES
2022-23 | Year 2
Gearlds’ second campaign back home, her first with a full offseason, saw her join elite company as one of three coaches in program history to post a win improvement in each of her first two campaigns, joining Linn Dunn and Carolyn Peck. Gearlds guided Purdue back to the NCAA Tournament firs the first time since 2017 behind the program’s best record in five seasons at 19-11, while having two games canceled. The Boilermakers went 9-8 in Big Ten play for their first winning record in league action since 2017-18. Gearlds and the Boilermakers got things rolling in the right direction in non-conference play with a 9-1 record, the program’s best mark since Katie Gearlds was a freshman in 2003-04.
After snapping a 19-game drought against ranked opponents in 2021-22, Gearlds guided the Boilermakers to a pair of ranked wins against back-to-back Big Ten opponents on the road for the first time in program history. Purdue downed No. 22 Illinois 62-52 in Champaign for its first league ranked win since 2018, before knocking off No. 2 Ohio State 73-65 in Columbus. The win over the Buckeyes marked the first true road win over an AP top-5 opponent in Purdue history.
Purdue also netted its first win in the Big Ten Tournament since 2020 with a 57-55 victory over Wisconsin at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Jayla Smith drained a 3-pointer with 4.1 seconds remaining to complete the third-largest comeback in Big Ten Tournament history, erasing an 18-point deficit.
The transfer portal was a boon to the Boilermakers as Gearlds added Lasha Petree from Rutgers and WAC player of the Year Caitlyn Harper from Cal Baptist. Petree paced Purdue with 14.7 points per game, while Harper was one of 11 players from the Big Ten to average double figures and shoot over 50% from the field.
Jeanae Terry was one of three players in the country to record over six points, assists and rebounds per game, as she tallied 190 assists on the year, the second most in Purdue history. Terry was named All-Big Ten Second Team by the league’s coaches, while the media tabbed her honorable mention and a spot on the All-Defensive Team. Abbey Ellis, for the second consecutive year, garnered All-Big Ten honorable mention laurels.
On the recruiting front, Gearlds inked five players during National Signing Day in November. McKenna Layden, Rashunda Jones, Mary Ashley Stevenson, Sophie Swanson and Emily Monson marked Gearlds' first true signing class. The quintet was ranked No. 21 by ESPNW. Already one of the top recruiting groups in the Big Ten, Gearlds added to the class' firepower when Amiyah Reynolds signed for Purdue in May, along with her sister Mila, a transfer from Maryland. Both players were ranked in the top 60 coming out of high school.
2021-22 | Year 1
The Katie Gearlds Era opened sooner than anticipated, as Gearlds was elevated to the head position a mere 47 days before the 2021-22 season started. Undaunted, Gearlds guided the Boilermakers to 17 wins in her first campaign, marking a 10-win improvement from the previous season. The 10-win jump was the best by a first year coach at Purdue and third best in program history.
Gearlds’ first season saw Purdue return to the postseason for the first time since the 2017-18 season with a berth in the WNIT. The Boilermakers also picked up their first ranked win in three seasons with a 66-61 decision over No. 17/22 Florida State at the St. Pete Showcase in November.
Under Gearlds in 2021-22, the Boilermakers set the program record for 3-pointers made and attempted, going 239-of-738 on the year. The Boilermakers knocked down seven or more triples in 19 games, with four outings of 12 3-pointers or more. Purdue’s 27 made triples through the opening three games were the most by a team in program history to start a season. The Boilermakers matched the program record for 3-pointers in a game with 15 against Illinois on Jan. 20.
Purdue worked the ball around on the offensive end with 16.1 assists per game, good for fourth in the Big Ten and the most by Purdue since 2009-10. Purdue featured the best defensive perimeter team in the Big Ten with opponents just making 27.6% of their 3-point attempts.
Abbey Ellis, Jeanae Terry and Madison Layden all received Big Ten Conference honorable mention nods.
Season Honors
In two seasons back at Purdue, five Boilermakers have garnered All-Big Ten status by the leagues coaches and media. Jeanae Terry was tabbed to the All-Big Ten Second Team in 2022-23 by the coaches, while the media placed her on the All-Defensive Team.
Purdue Postseason Bound
The Boilermakers have reached the postseason in each of Katie Gearlds' first two seasons back in West Lafayette. Purdue returned to the NCAA Touranment for the first time since 2017 and the 27th time in program history during the 2022-23 campaign. Gearlds took the Boilermakers back to the postseason for the first time since 2018 in her first year, reaching the second round of the WNIT.
On the Recruiting Trail
Gearlds' first true signing class in November of 2022 was ranked No. 21 by ESPNW. The class of five added to its firepower when top-50 signee Amiyah Reynolds signed for Purdue in May of 2023, alongside her sister and former top-60 recruit Mila, a transfer from Maryland.
Prior to Purdue
Gearlds spent eight seasons taking Marian University to unparalleled success as its head coach, winning back-to-back NAIA National Championships in 2016 and 2017. She is the winningest coach in Marian history with a 228-50 record, an 82% clip.
A three-time NAIA National Coach of the Year, Gearlds guided the Knights to six straight Crossroads League regular-season titles, four league tournament championships and seven appearances in the NAIA Tournament.
With only five All-Americans in program history before her arrival, Gearlds mentored 12 All-America honorees, including 2021 WBCA NAIA National Player of the Year Imani Guy, as well as 28 All-Crossroads League selections.
Her teams averaged more than 70 points per game in all eight campaigns at Marion and over 75 points in four seasons. Defensively, the Knights kept opponents to 60 points per game or less in six of her eight years.
At the conclusion of the 2020-21 campaign, Gearlds was named to the coaching staff for the 2021 USA Basketball U16 Junior National Team.
Professional Experience
Prior to her jump into coaching, Gearlds spent three seasons in the WNBA with the Seattle Storm. She was taken with the seventh overall pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft, the highest selection ever from Purdue and the 10th top-10 pick in Big Ten history.
Over three campaigns with the Storm, Gearlds shot just under 40% from the field and 37.9% from distance. She also spent time playing professionally in Spain, Greece, Portugal and Slovakia. Two of her closest teammates and friends over the years are WNBA legend Sue Bird and fellow WNBA great and New Orleans Pelicans Vice President of Basketball Operations Swin Cash.
All-America College Career
One of the most-prolific players at Purdue, Gearlds was a three-year starter for the Boilermakers during her career from 2004-07, appearing in 133 games with 100 starts. She ranks fourth in program history with 1,974 points and was the ninth fastest to join the 1,000-point club, reaching the plateau in just 80 games. For her efforts, Gearlds was named a Legend of Mackey Arena during its 50th anniversary season.
The Boilermakers won two Big Ten Tournament titles and never missed the NCAA Tournament with Gearlds in the squad, reaching three Sweet 16s and one Elite Eight. Her senior class ranks seventh with 103 wins, eighth in winning percentage at 77.4% and seventh in Big Ten winning percentage at 78.1%.
As a senior in 2006-07, Gearlds set the Purdue single-game record with 41 points at Wisconsin on Feb. 18, 2007, and scored 707 points to tie the single-season program record.
Gearlds’ senior season awards haul featured Third Team All-America by the Associated Press, All-America Honorable Mention by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and a spot NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team. She was a four-time All-Big Ten selection, a three-time All-Big Ten Tournament Team honoree and was the 2004 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Even more than 15 years after her playing days ended in West Lafayette, Gearlds name is still scattered across the Purdue record book – fourth with a 14.8 scoring average for her career, fourth in double-figure scoring games with 102, third in field goals made, third in career 3-pointers with 238, first in single season assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.57 in 2005-06 and tied for second in that career category at 1.64.
Gearlds earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology with minors in psychology and communications form Purdue in 2007.
An In-State Talent
A native of Beech Grove, Indiana, Gearlds was named the Indiana Miss Basketball in 2003. She amassed 2,521 career points, good for sixth in IHSAA history. She averaged 30.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 5.1 steals per game to lead Beach Grove High School to the 2003 Class 3A State Championship. Her high school accolades included Nike/WBCA All-America, First Team All-State and the Gatorade Indiana Player of the Year. A McDonald's All-American, Gearlds was named the MVP of the McDonald's All-America Game the same season as a young talent from Akron, Ohio - LeBron James.
Year-by-Year Coaching
| Year | School | Record | Pct. | Conf. Record. (Finish) | Pct. | Postseason | Honors |
| 2013-14 | Marian | 16-16 | .500 | 8-10 (5th) | .444 | ||
| 2014-15 | Marian | 28-6 | .824 | 14-4 (2nd) CL Tourney Champions | .778 | NAIA Round of 32 | |
| 2015-16 | Marian | 32-6 | .842 | 16-2 (1st) CL Tourney Runner-Up | .889 | NAIA National Champions | CL/NAIA Coach of the Year |
| 2016-17 | Marian | 35-3 | .921 | 17-1 (1st) CL Tourney Champions | .994 | NAIA National Champions | CL/NAIA Coach of the Year |
| 2017-18 | Marian | 32-3 | .914 | 17-1 (1st) CL Tourney Champions | .994 | NAIA Round of 16 | CL Coach of the Year |
| 2018-19 | Marian | 27-7 | .794 | 16-2 (1st) CL Tourney Runner-Up | .889 | NAIA Round of 32 | |
| 2019-20 | Marian | 31-3 | .912 | 16-2 (1st) CL Tourney Champions | .889 | NAIA Round of 16 | CL/NAIA Coach of the Year |
| 2020-21 | Marian | 27-6 | .818 | 16-0 (1st) CL Tourney Runner-Up | 1.000 | NAIA Round of 32 | CL Coach of the Year |
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| Totals at Marian (8 years) | 228-50 | .820 | 120-22 (6 RS Titles, 5 Tourney Titles) | .845 | 7 NAIA Apps, 2 National Titles | ||
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| 2021-22 | Purdue | 17-15 | .531 | 7-11 | .389 | WNIT Second Round | |
| 2022-23 | Purdue | 19-11 | .633 | 9-8 | .529 | NCAA First Four | |
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| Totals at Purdue | 36-26 | .581 | 16-19 | .457 | 2 Postseason Appearance (NCAA, WNIT) | ||
| Career Totals | 264-76 | .776 | 9 Postseasons, 2 National Championships | 5 Conference COTY, 3 National COTY | |||
