Central Connecticut State University announced Kristin Caruso as the next head coach of the women’s basketball team on April 11, making her the seventh head coach in the history of the program.
Caruso helped lead Central to a 9-6 record as the acting coach in the 2024-25 season. The Blue Devils finished third in the NEC with a 10-6 conference record, which was good enough to host an NEC Tournament game for the first time in 10 years. Her team was led by Belle Lanpher, who was named the NEC Player of the Year, making her the first woman to win the award in CCSU history.
This will be the third head coaching job for Caruso. Her first was at Marist College, where she spent four seasons from 1998 to 2002. Her second stint was at Longwood University, where she spent three seasons from 2007 to 2010. She was also the associate head coach at the University of Hartford for five seasons, from 2002 to 2007. She helped the Hawks win back-to-back America East Conference Tournament championships in 2005 and 2006 and helped them win their first NCAA tournament game in program history in 2006.
Caruso played basketball at UConn from 1986 to 1990 under the legendary head coach Geno Auriemma. During her time, she averaged 11.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game in 110 games. She made the Big East All-Freshman team and was named Big East Rookie of the Year in the 1986-87 season, made All-Big East second team in the 1988-89 season and made All-Big East third team in the 1989-1990 season.
The 2025-26 season marks the 40th season that the women’s basketball team will participate as a Division I program and will be the team’s 55th overall season. The Blue Devils shared a regular season title with Bryant in the 2014-15 season and are still looking for a Conference Tournament Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance. Central will look to build on their previous season, but different players will have to step up for Caruso in her first season as the head coach, with reigning NEC Player of the Year Belle Lanpher graduating.
