The University of Scranton Executive Director of Athletics Dave Martin announced that Kaitlyn Lewis has been named the next head coach of the women's basketball program. Lewis becomes the ninth head coach in program history and will assume her new role at Scranton effective immediately.
Lewis comes to The University of Scranton with four seasons of Division I coaching experience under her belt. She spent last season as an assistant coach at Rider University after serving on the coaching staff at her alma mater, American University, during the 2024-25 season. Prior to that, Lewis spent two seasons as an assistant at Lehigh University.
"We are excited to name Kaitlyn Lewis as our next head women's basketball coach of the Lady Royals," Martin said. "Her ability to build relationships and recruit quality student-athletes makes her the ideal person for this job. She helped the Lady Royals achieve tremendous success as an assistant coach here, and we are excited to welcome Kaitlyn back to Scranton."
Lewis previously served as an assistant coach for the Lady Royals from 2019-22, helping guide the team to a 58-8 overall record, three conference championships, and an NCAA Division III Sweet 16 appearance in 2022. She also played a key role in recruiting and player development, highlighted by coaching All-Americans Bridget Monaghan and Abby Anderson, along with recruiting current rising seniors Meghan Lamanna, Katie Gorski, Elizabeth Bennett and Natalie Stoupakis.
"First, I would like to thank Dave Martin, Bobby Davis, and the entire search committee for the opportunity to lead The University of Scranton Women's Basketball program. Returning home to Scranton and to the University that means so much to me is truly a dream come true," Lewis said. "I'm excited to begin building relationships with our student-athletes and helping provide them with an outstanding experience both on and off the court. I am incredibly grateful to join a program built on years of tradition and success, and I will do everything in my power to honor those who have come before me and helped shape the program into what it is today."
Lewis' return to Scranton comes after building a strong reputation as one of the rising young coaches in women's basketball. She was recognized nationally as a WBCA Top Thirty under 30 honoree, an award recognizing the top 30 women's basketball coaches in the country under the age of 30.
As a player at American University, Lewis was a standout guard and team captain who helped lead the Eagles to a Patriot League Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance during her junior season, followed by a Women's NIT berth during her senior year. She started 67 of 115 career games and averaged 11.9 points and 3.4 assists per game as a senior while totaling 101 assists on the season.
A native of nearby Covington Township and a graduate of North Pocono High School, Lewis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from American University in 2019 and was named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll twice during her collegiate career (2017-18 and 2018-19).
Lewis returns to a Lady Royals program that has won 11 straight Landmark Conference Championships, advanced to three consecutive NCAA Elite Eight appearances from 2024-26, and earned a berth in the NCAA National Championship game this past season, finishing with a 32-1 record. She takes over the reins from Ben O'Brien, who accepted the head coaching position at Lafayette College in April.
