March 26, 2007

NEWARK, NJ - Kim Bowen-Lusk has resigned as head coach of the women's basketball team at New Jersey Institute of Technology, Director of Athletics Lenny Kaplan announced today.

Bowen-Lusk is the mother of two young daughters, the older of whom is two. She cited increased family responsibilities as her reason for resigning as NJIT's women's basketball coach after five years in the position, during which she compiled a 67-74 overall record.

"It was a case of having two small children vs. the Division I lifestyle," she said. "We had a lot of travel for games (including the Dakotas, Texas and Utah) and knowing what's ahead in the summer, with recruiting, it's not easy to explain to a one-year old and a two-year old who want their mother. I think I'm going to take a couple of years and spend time with my kids."

Her five-year tenure as NJIT head coach included three winning seasons, highlighted by a program-best 18-12 mark in 2004-05. That season also included a regional NCAA Division II ranking for the first time, as well as the program's first postseason play beyond its own conference tournament (2005 Eastern College Athletic Conference Division II Championship Tournament).

In 2006-07, NJIT began the process of reclassifying to NCAA Division I and the Highlanders finished 4-24. Bowen-Lusk piloted NJIT to its first Division I win in the third game of the season, a 91-70 victory over Norfolk State on November 18.

Kaplan praised the outgoing coach. "I am sorry to see her go," said Kaplan. "She took us to new heights in Division II and we appreciate her work in starting our transition to Division I. Stepping aside for the sake of her family is something we certainly respect and we wish her and her family the best."

In announcing the resignation, Kaplan added that NJIT would immediately open a nationwide search to find a successor to Bowen-Lusk.

In addition to the team success on the court, Bowen-Lusk coached all-time leading scorer Kelly Crowe (1,497 points). Off the court, Crowe, fellow senior co-captain Aine O'Dwyer and sophomore Ali Baumlin were all named to the 2006-07 national Division I Independent all-academic team.

Bowen-Lusk's work-related demands increased in 2006-07, with the first season of Division I competition, which included nationwide travel for away games. Previously, at the Division II level, NJIT's 24-game conference schedule consisted of games no farther than Wilmington, Delaware.

Assessing her tenure, Bowen-Lusk was upbeat. "We had a lot of success in a short period of time, starting with my first season and we were able to keep it up at the Division II level," she said. "I feel good about what we did in making the transition to Division I. There's a lot of work to be done to reach the level of success we want, but I think we've made a good beginning and the new coach will have a good group of kids to work with."

NJIT women's basketball completed its 20th all-time season this year. Founded in 1986-87 as a Division III program, it moved to Division II in 1997-98, where it remained through the 2005-06 season.