Karen Aston recognized as Title IX Pioneer by Ohio Valley Conference and Little RockKaren Aston recognized as Title IX Pioneer by Ohio Valley Conference and Little Rock
Jeff Huehn
Women's Basketball

Karen Aston recognized as Title IX Pioneer by Ohio Valley Conference and Little Rock

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – UTSA women's basketball head coach Karen Aston is being recognized by the Ohio Valley Conference and her alma mater Little Rock as a Title IX Pioneer.
 
As part of the year-long celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Title IX, the OVC will celebrate pioneers from member institutions during its annual Spring Meetings next week.
 
"I am honored, first off to be representing Little Rock in any manner," Aston said upon learning of her recognition by Little Rock and the OVC. "I loved my time there and cherish my memories.  Secondly, I am humbled and honored to be mentioned as a pioneer in regards to Title IX. My life has been enormously impacted by Women in Sport and by the realization that sports molded me as a woman. There are countless women who have had an influence on my life, starting there at Little Rock with Babs Blagg and Van Compton. I am forever grateful for their willingness to fight for equality and opportunity for women in sports and will always feel obligated to pay it forward."
 
Aston is a 1987 graduate of Little Rock, where she earned a bachelor's degree in physical educations. A Benton, Ark., native, she played two seasons of standout basketball for the Trojans after transferring from Ouachita Baptist.
 
Following graduation, Aston entered the coaching ranks where her experience ranges from high school to the collegiate ranks. She was named the Arkansas Basketball Coach of the Year after leading Vilonia to a 36-1 record and the Class 2A state title in 1992-93. Prior to UTSA, Aston had stops at Charlotte, North Texas and Texas.
 

Aston has been consistently recognized as one of the top coaches in the nation. She was one of four finalists for the Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year award in 2017 and was one of 10 semifinalists for the honor in 2018. Aston also earned Big 12 Coach of the Year accolades in 2017.
 
As a coach, she holds a 292-169 (.633) career record in 14 seasons. In 2019, she was inducted into the Little Rock Athletics Hall of Fame.
 
The 2016-17 Big 12 Coach of the Year, Aston has led her teams to six NCAA Tournament appearances. including three Sweet 16 finishes and an Elite Eight appearance in 2016. Aston was named a finalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year award in 2016-17 and led Texas to 22 or more victories in each of the past five seasons, finishing second in the Big 12 for three years. In her first season with UTSA, she led the Roadrunners to the second round of the conference tournament for the first time since the 2017-18 season.
 
While she wore a Trojans uniform, Aston shot .409 (158-for-386) over her career as she averaged 10.3 points and 1.6 rebounds per game, scoring 372 points, grabbing 58 rebounds with 24 assists and five steals overall in her 36 games played.

 
On Wednesday, June 1, the league will sponsor a Title IX Luncheon, which will honor 13 pioneers from its current and future members institutions.  The honorees, picked by each school, include:
 

  • Lin Dunn, Austin Peay
  • Betty Wiseman, Belmont
  • Dr. Gail Richard, Eastern Illinois
  • Bre Watts, Lindenwood
  • Karen Aston, Little Rock
  • Deanie Brown, Morehead State
  • Margaret Simmons, Murray State
  • Cindy Gannon, Southeast Missouri
  • Rosemarie Archangel, SIUE
  • Patty Marcum, Southern Indiana
  • Chandra Cheeseborough-Guice, Tennessee State
  • Marynell Meadors, Tennessee Tech
  • Bettye Giles, UT Martin

 
June 23, 2022 marks the 50th Anniversary of Title IX, which was signed into law in 1972 as part of the Education Amendments of 1972. Additional information on the celebration can also be found on the NCAA's website: ncaa.org/titleix50.
 
-UTSA-