When Central Connecticut State University announced Kristin Caruso as the next head coach of the woman’s basketball team on April 11, 2025, it marked the new chapter for the program. Caruso, who helped lead the Blue Devils to a 9-6 record as acting head coach during the 2024-25 season, officially took the reins. Under her guidance, CCSU finished third in the Northeast Conference and hosted a tournament game for the first time in 10 years.
Caruso brings a wealth of experience to the program. She has previously served as head coach at Marist College and Longwood University and was an associate head coach at the University of Hartford, where she helped the Hawks win back-to-back America East Tournament championships and their first NCAA Tournament game. She also played at UConn under coach Geno Auriemma, averaging 11.3 points per game during her collegiate career.
Reflecting on her past coaching stops, Caruso said her philosophy has evolved with experience. “I’ve learned that you must change your coaching style based on the kids you’re coaching,” she said. “It’s a lot different now than it was when I first started 15 years ago. My philosophy has changed a lot –– just growing up, learning more about the game and understanding the pressures student-athletes face. It’s definitely changed for the better.”
Her coaching style is heavily influenced by her time at UConn. “I think my intensity and passion for the game and my love for the game come from my time at UConn.” Caruso said. “I like to have relationships with my players, and I care about them both on and off the court. That’s all the kind of stuff I took from when I played at UConn and coached there, and I bring it to my coaching today.”
Stepping in as acting head coach midseason was a whirlwind, she recalled. “It was crazy,” Caruso said. “I was working in HR, and then suddenly they told me I had practice Wednesday night and a game Thursday. I didn’t know anyone’s name or the plays we ran –– but I did know how to coach basketball. It was like riding a bike. The second I got back on, I thought, ‘Wow, I’ve missed this.”
As she prepares for a rebuilding year, Caruso is clear about the kind of team she wants to lead. “I want our team to play very hard and compete,” she said. “Diving on the floor for loose balls — that’s nonnegotiable. The X’s and O’s will be based on the talent of my players. Right now, it’s a little tough because we are totally rebuilding. We lost 95% of our points from last year, so it’s basically a new team. We’re figuring things out and working hard, but one thing I always want is to go out and play hard and compete.”
Mentorship has also played a key role in shaping Caruso’s journey. “I had a middle school coach who basically helped mold my love for the game,” she said. “He was disciplined, passionate, and always believed I could play college basketball. From seventh grade on, he even wrote to college coaches on my behalf. Later, Coach Auriemma started recruiting me in ninth grade, so I got to know him during high school. I’ve been self-motivated, but between those two coaches, I learned a lot and gained a lot of knowledge that I still use today.”
Her connection with the CCSU community is equally important. “The students have been great,” Caruso said. “We’ve only had two home games, but the crowds have grown. I know our first home game was amazing — I looked across and saw a lot of students, and I think the kids felt that it was awesome. I did too. To keep their support would be incredible, and I really do appreciate it.”
Looking ahead, Caruso is focused on growth and long-term goals. “I really want our team to keep growing and getting better,” she said. “We’re struggling right now with putting the basketball in the hole, but we want to be very competitive in the NEC. Our goal will always be, as long as I’m head coach, to get to the NCAA tournament. How long will that take? I don’t know — it could happen this year, it could happen in two years — but we’re going to keep striving for it and working every day to get better.”
With Caruso at the helm, CCSU women’s basketball enters a new era, one that will blend experience, passion, and a clear vision for success on and off the court.
