Former women’s basketball student-athlete and 1,000-point scorer Kelly Guarino has been named the next assistant coach, head coach Mike Lane announced on Monday, October 14, 2024.
"Kelly Guarino is not our new assistant coach because she is a double-degreed alum nor is it because she was a captain of the Highlanders nor is it due to her being a 1,000 point scorer in our uniform, nor is it because she holds the career record for most made three point field goals in NJIT history, although all those things impressively dot her resume,” said seventh-year head coach Mike Lane.
Guarino, a 2019 NJIT graduate, began her collegiate coaching career at Wagner, where she was responsible for Player Development of the guards before returning to her alma mater NJIT as an Assistant Coach.
“I am excited to have Kelly back in University Heights because simply she is an excellent basketball coach,” added Lane. “I have been able to witness her coaching firsthand watching her lead her Empire State Basketball club team over these past few years. She is passionate, curious, supportive and a true student of the game. She will make yet another impact on NJIT Women's Basketball, but this time as a coach. Our players, staff and department couldn't be happier that she is back home!"
Prior to her time at Wagner, Guarino acted as the Owner and Director of Empire State Basketball Club, where she assisted in placing over 25 high school women’s basketball players with NCAA programs and was responsible for Player Development.
She was responsible for coaching 10 teams and over 80 players along with managing schedules, travel arrangements, and social media accounts.
The Thiells, NY native served as the head women’s basketball coach at Pleasantville High School in Pleasantville, NY for the last two seasons (2022-24) where she transformed a losing program into a winning record. She also acted as a Special Education Teacher.
As a player at NJIT, she became one of 12 Highlanders to score over 1,000 points and set the school-record for most three-pointers made (250). Guarino ranks first all-time in free-throw percentage (86.2), and second in three-point percentage (35.7).
“I’m thrilled to return to the place I called home for five years,” said Guarino. “I can’t thank Coach Lane, Lenny Kaplan and Peg Hefferan for this amazing opportunity. I’m ready to get to work and make an impact right away.”
Guarino, who appeared in 106 games, starting 97, scored a career-high 28 points in a win against Colgate on December 14, 2018, connecting on seven threes. She scored over 20+ points five times in her final season at NJIT.
She became the first female NJIT student-athlete to earn ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors in 2019. A two-time ASUN All-Academic team honoree, Guarino graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and Minor in Communications (2018) and an MBA (2019), boosting a 3.955 GPA.
Guarino graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas in 2021 with a Master of Science in Teaching, a Dual Certification, in Childhood Education and Special Education (Grades 1-6).
Updated October 14, 2024
