Coach Mullen Inducted into Connecticut Basketball Hall of Fame

Kate Mullen, who recently completed her 19th year in charge of the Wesleyan University women’s basketball team, was inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame at its 24th annual induction ceremony April 13.

Coach Mullen was honored as one of seven inductees. She was the only individual inducted as a college coach.  Two others were honored as high school players, one as a high school coach, one as a college player, one as a referee and another in the honorary area.

Hired as an adjunct assistant professor of physical education at Wesleyan in 1992, Mullen guided her teams to nine consecutive winning seasons from 2000-2009 with a 153-69 (.689) record during the span. The Cardinals had appeared in nine straight NESCAC tournaments and made two trips to the NCAAs. After going 21-4, a team best winning percentage (.840), and earning the second seed in the NESCAC tournament, Mullen was voted NESCAC coach of the year by her conference peers in 2002-03. The 2004-05 campaign led to a 22-5 record, the winningest in team history, while securing an NCAA bid and advancing to the Sweet Sixteen. In 2005-06, the team made its second visit to the NCAAs and finished with an 18-8 mark.

Bringing with her a solid background in coaching, Mullen was the head basketball coach at Elms College for seven seasons, going 4-3 against Wesleyan over that time. She also served as associate director of athletics at Elms. Prior to her time with the Blazers, Coach Mullen was the head coach of women’s basketball at Westfield State College from 1981-85 while teaching in the Enfield, Conn. school system. From her 29 seasons in the college coaching ranks, Mullen has compiled 341 victories, ranking her among the top-40 active Division III coaches and second in the NESCAC.

Mullen is a veteran of numerous summer basketball camps as a coach and lecturer. She is co-owner of the Fundamental Basketball Camp held at Wesleyan University. A 1978 graduate of Central Connecticut State University, where she was an outstanding three-sport athlete (field hockey, basketball, softball), Mullen earned her master’s degree in physical education from Springfield College in 1992. As an associate director of athletics at Wesleyan, Mullen also teaches physical education activity classes and is currently an adjunct professor.