Over the last 25 years, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford women’s basketball program has seen countless players and coaches represent the Panthers, but only one has played for and led the team as its head coach. Kaserra Owens has been a part of the Pitt-Bradford women’s basketball team for nine of the previous ten seasons, playing for the Panthers from 2013-2017, serving as an assistant coach in 2018-19 and serving in a head coaching capacity since the 2019-20 season.
After graduating from Bradford Area High School in 2013, with 1,020 career points and a 45-4 record over two District 9 championship seasons, Owens decided to stay in Bradford and join the Panthers. “I loved that there was an opportunity for me to stay home, and play collegiate basketball,” said Owens on her decision to attend Pitt-Bradford.
For the Panthers, Owens played 97 career games, scoring 900 points, grabbing 503 rebounds and dishing out 197 assists. She was a part of 66 wins and reached the AMCC championship tournament in all four seasons, making one appearance in the championship game.
“I really enjoyed my entire time at Pitt-Bradford, but my junior and senior years were the best. Those two years were full of great friendships, good basketball and all the other little details in between,” said Owens.
Owens graduated from Pitt-Bradford in the spring of 2017. She spent a year away from the university, but returned in 2018-19 to assist head coach Sharay Hall. “I came back because it was an opportunity to continue to grow personally and to be part of a program and school that made such a great impact on my life,” explained Owens. “It also allows me to build relationships with my athletes and give them the opportunity to have a great college experience.”
Owens was named interim coach in 2019, and had that tag removed in 2020 when she was named the 8th head coach of the Panthers since joining the NCAA in 1997. This season, she led the Panthers to their first 2-0 start since 2015-16.
In addition to her duties as the head women’s basketball coach, Owens also serves as an advisor for the Pitt-Bradford Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She uses her experience as a former Pitt-Bradford and AMCC student-athlete to provide valuable advice to her team and SAAC members. “Being a student-athlete at Pitt-Bradford and in the AMCC has opened a door to many opportunities for me,” closed Owens. “These opportunities have allowed me to grow personally, which in turn will help me to continue to improve our program.”
The Then & Now Series is part of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference’s 25th anniversary, where the conference will be recognizing current AMCC coaches and/or athletic administrators who are former AMCC student-athletes. The Then & Now Series will run every Tuesday throughout the academic year.