Head coach Brenda Frese welcomed Maryland native Kaili McLaren to the Maryland women's basketball staff in the fall of 2019. McLaren, who is from D.C.-Maryland area, returns home after playing professionally overseas and at Connecticut in college.
McLaren was hired as the Director of Recruiting Operations and Player Personnel. She assists with daily office duties, recruiting operations and community relations.
"Kaili is someone I have known since way back when we recruited her out of high school,” Frese said. “She has always been a person that lights up the room with her personality. She is someone that will connect and relate well with our players. We are excited to welcome Kaili back home after a tremendous professional playing career overseas."
McLaren played professionally overseas for a decade. She played in Greece, where she was the Player of the Year and Forward of the Year in 2011. McLaren played in Israel for two years from the fall of 2011 through the 2013-2014 season, where she was the second leading scorer on her team in back-to-back season.
Throughout her time overseas, McLaren would return home to coach in the Good Counsel Girls Varsity Basketball Summer League. She served as an assistant coach for the Falcons in the 2013 season.
In 2014, McLaren worked as a basketball trainer with ITrainedU, working with many players that went on to play in college.
She spent the fall of 2014 playing in Switzerland and was her team’s leading rebounder and No. 2 in scoring. In the spring of 2015 she played for Urla Eda in Turkey.
From the fall of 2015 through 2018, McLaren served as an assistant coach at Good Counsel, her alma mater. She worked with numerous players that went on to play in college, including fellow staff member Lindsey Spann. She also served as head coach for the Player Progression Academy for youth.
From the fall of 2018 through the summer of 2019, McLaren played in the Australian league. Her team, the Canberra Capitals won the 2018-19 league title.
McLaren played at Connecticut from 2007-10, where she was a part of the 2009 and 2010 NCAA Championship teams that also finished perfect seasons. The team won three straight Big East titles and she was selected to the All-Big East Freshman Team.
In high school at Good Counsel, she helped the Falcons to two WCAC and City titles and was named MVP. She was named the Gatorade State Player of the Year in Maryland and earned McDonalds’ All-American, Parade All-American and USA Today All-American honors.
McLaren graduated from Connecticut in 2010 with her bachelor’s degree in an individualized major in Social and Technological aspects of entrepreneurship.
