Kristy Curry Biography

Kristy Curry starts the 2004-05 season, her sixth as head coach of women's basketball at Purdue with an overall record of 136-31 (.814). Other than just sheer numbers what makes her five year record at Purdue so remarkable is it took her only 126 games to reach the 100 win milestone, faster than any coach in the rich and storied history of Purdue women's basketball.

Think about it, Curry coached the Boilermakers to a 100-26 (.794) record in four short seasons, having reached the 100 win plateau in February of 2003. Another aspect of this incredible record is she achieved this mark faster than women's basketball coaching legends such as Tara VanDerveer of Stanford, Pat Summitt of Tennessee, Jody Conradt of Texas and Geno Auriemma of Connecticut, icons all and pretty stout company for the young lady from Louisiana.

Not satisfied with the blistering pace she set in her first four seasons, Curry actually improved upon her record in her fifth season bringing her five year record at Purdue to an outstanding 136-31 (.814) mark.

After five seasons at the Boilermaker's helm Curry's teams have won either a Big Ten regular season crown or a Big Ten Tournament championship.

Under Curry's tutelage the Boilermaker's own a 64-16 (.800) Big Ten record, even better they have an exceptional 68-5 (.932) home record against all-comers and while it may be hard to believe an even better home record against conference foes of 38-2 (.950). Their conference tournament record is an incredible 12-2 (.857).

Basketball is in Curry's blood. She played basketball as a point guard all four years of her high school eligibility in Louisiana. She received all-state, all-district and all-region honors.

Kristy Curry's coaching odyssey began when she coached at two high schools in Louisiana for a total of three seasons. From this start she moved to the college level as an assistant at Tulane for two seasons. She then went to Stephen F. Austin as an assistant for a season then to Texas A&M for two seasons. From Texas she came home to Louisiana where she joined the coaching staff at Louisiana Tech.

In her three seasons at Tech Curry helped guide the team to a combined 92-11 (.893) record. Tech went to the postseason NCAA Tournament all three seasons she was at Tech going as far as the "Sweet Sixteen" once, playing in the championship game once and the Final Four once.

Following the 1998-99 season the opportunity to take over at Purdue as head coach of the women's basketball team presented itself and Curry quickly snapped it up.

She didn't waste any time putting her stamp on the Lady Boilermaker's team going 23-8 (.742) in Curry's first season at the helm, a conference tournament crown and a trip to the postseason NCAA Tournament.

Thanks to Curry and her assistants' Purdue was rated as having the best incoming freshman class in the nation for the 2000-01 season.

Her second season at Purdue proved even better than her first. The Boilermakers went 31-7 (.816),won the Big Ten regular season title and went to the postseason NCAA Tournament advancing to the championship game. Curry is only the second women's basketball coach in NCAA history to coach her team to the NCAA championship game in just her second year as head coach.

In her five seasons at Purdue Curry has had the good fortune to coach a lot of talented players. She has coached a player who was the first Purdue player in Boilermaker history to be named a Kodak All-American twice and only the third in Big Ten history to accomplish the feat. Additionally she was named Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year in 2001. Curry has mentored five players who earned first team all-conference honors.

Obviously the relationship between Purdue and Curry has been win-win. The esteem with which each holds the other is equally obvious.

Morgan Burke, Purdue's AD believes Curry is at the pinnacle of her profession. Burke recently said: "In five short years, Kristy has proven herself as one of the best coaches in the game. Her record of winning games and championships speaks for itself. What sets her apart and makes her an invaluable member of our team is her commitment to develop the players in her program into the finest students, the finest athletes, and the finest people."

Note within Burke's statement is the recognition Curry is about a lot more than just coaching basketball, a refreshing attribute given todays "win at all costs" mentality.

Curry said: "I'm very appreciative of the loyalty Morgan Burke and the entire Purdue administration have shown me since I arrived in West Lafayette back in 1999. Together we have worked to maintain the tradition of success that Purdue fans have become accustomed to."

Curry, who recently signed a one-year contract extension keeping her a Boilermaker through the 2009-10 season had this to say about staying at Purdue: "It's where I want to be. They took a chance on a little country girl that nobody knew or heard of the year after they won a national championship."

ESPN women's basketball analyst Ann Meyer recently said about Curry: "She's like a little 12-year-old girl, and she's got this high voice. You think, how can you take this kid serious? But oh, man, when she gets out there, she's tough and fiery and demanding. There is a fierceness about her. She is a tough competitor."

Curry enters her sixth season with a 136-31 record, an .814 winning percentage that ranks third behind only UConn coach Geno Auriemma (.836) and Tennessee's Pat Summit (.836).

Curry has a wonderful situation at Purdue. She also has a very unique situation, perhaps one that exsists nowhere else in the country. One of Kristy Curry's assistants is Kelly Curry. Yes, they are related, Kelly is her husband. This is not nepotism, Kelly has an excellent resume in his own right.

Kelly Curry has been involved in, either as a coach or AD, high school and college athletics for the past ten years. He is getting prepared to enter his sixth season as an assistant women's basketball coach at Purdue. His responsibilities include coaching Purdue's post players and recruiting.

Kristy Curry, both his boss and his wife, is very appreciative having her husband as a mate and as an assistant coach. She says about this unique situation: "I am very blessed to have Kelly by my side, both personally and professionally. As a basketball coach, he is one of the most dedicated and hardest-working people I have ever seen. He also has tremendous passion for and knowledge of the game of basketball."

He says of this unique situation: "I am very proud to work at Purdue. This program has a great legacy, and every day I try a little harder to make sure that we continue the tradition set before us. The job may be demanding, but the rewards of success and accomplishment are worth it."

Kristy Curry believes in education. During her five years at Purdue every player who has completed their playing career at Purdue has graduated. She has coached twelve players who have achieved Academic All-Big Ten status as well as two players who have earned first team Academic All-American distinction.

Curry gives of herself and her time to a variety of worthy causese and charities including the Girl Scouts and Habitat for Humanity. In addition she volunteers for the Tippecanoe County Family Services as a spokesperson recording public service announcements and participating in fund raising programs by making personal appearances.

Curry herself holds a B.S. degree in health and physical education from Northeast Louisiana and a Master's degree in kinesiology from Stephen F. Austin.

Coach Curry and her husband, Kelly, live in West Lafayette with their daughters, Kelsey and Kendall.

Some of her accomplishements are:

• Completed five seasons as the Purdue women's head basketball coach
• Overall record of 136-31 (.814) - five seasons
• Ranks third in winning percentage NCAA Division I women's basketball coaches
• Career average over 27 wins per season
• Reached 100 win level faster than an coach in Purdue history
• Reached 100 win plateau faster than Tara VanDerveer, Pat Summitt, Jody Conradt and Geno Auriemma
• In her tenure has coached Purdue to either a Big Ten regular season championsip or Big Ten Tournament crown
• Coached the Boilermaker's to a 64-16 (.800) Big Ten record
• Lady Boilermakers' during her tenure have a 68-5 (.932) home record against all competition
• Has coached Lady Boilermakers' to a home record against conference foes of 38-2 (.950)
• Coached team to a Big Ten tournament record of 12-2 (.857)
• Postseason NCAA Tournament record with her at the helm is 12-5 (.706)
• Played high school basketball all four seasons of eligibility
• Named all-state, all-district and all-region as a high school basketball player
• Eight seasons assistant women's college basketball coach
• Only second women's basketball coach in NCAA history to coach her team to NCAA championship game in just her second year as head coach
• Coached a player who was the first Purdue player in Boilermaker history to be named a Kodak All-American twice
• Coached a Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year
• Mentored five players who earned first team all-conference honors
• Under her tutelage every player who has completed their playing career at Purdue has graduated
• Coached twelve players who have received Academic All-Big Ten status
• Coached two players who have earned first team Academic All-American distinction
• Holds a B.S. degree in health and physical education from Northeast Louisiana
• Earned a Master's degree in kinesiology from Stephen F. Austin