Blair was named the 2020 Division I Assistant Coach of the Year by the WBCA. In September of 2020, Frese promoted Blair to associate head coach. Blair was also named one of the Most Impactful Assistant Coaches in Women's Basketball by Silver Waves Media in 2022.
Blair helped the Terrapins put the finishing touches on the No. 3 recruiting class of 2019, which included McDonald's All-American Diamond Miller.
In her seven seasons at Maryland, Blair helped the Terps earn a record of 178-50 (.781) and win the 2019, 2020, 2021 Big Ten regular season titles and the 2020 and 2021 Big Ten Tournament titles. Blair helped the Terrapins to four Sweet Sixteens in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2025 and the 2023 Elite Eight.
In Blair's first year in College Park, the Terrapins went 29-5, winning 12 games to start the year, including a dominant 85-61 win at No. 10 South Carolina in November. The Terps won 11 of 12 games to end the regular season and win their fourth Big Ten regular season title in five years. They earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
In 2019-20, the Terrapins earned a record of 28-4, winning 17 straight games to end the regular season and the Big Ten Tournament title. They clinched a share of their fifth Big Ten championship in six years with a record of 16-2 in conference play. Six Terrapins earned All-Big Ten honors - a program record. The Terps finished the season ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press and RPI rankings and were projected to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
In 2020-21, after losing all five starters, Blair helped lead the Terrapins to an amazing season in which they went 26-3 overall, 17-1 in Big Ten play and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. The Terrapins led the nation in scoring with 90.8 points per game.
In 2022-23, the Terrapins brought in a roster with nine newcomers after losing four of five starters to graduation and transfers. Blair and the staff implemented new systems. Picked to finish fourth in the Big Ten and No. 17 in the preseason AP poll, the Terps surpassed all expecations, winning 28 games and picking up nine wins over ranked teams, including wins over No. 6 UConn, at No. 7 Notre Dame and over No. 7 Iowa. The Terps finished second in the Big Ten and advanced to the program's first Elite Eight since 2015.
“From the moment she has stepped foot on our campus, Karen has made an impact on our program," Frese said. "She is someone who is always here for everyone and is selfless in her pursuit to help others achieve success. Karen's wealth of experience allows her to know exactly what needs to be done when needed and in the best interest of our program. Karen is someone I lean on and trust and I am grateful for what she means to our team and University."
“I love what I do, and working with Coach Frese and the Maryland family has been a blessing," Blair said. "The people around me, from the student-athletes to my colleagues and the best fans in the country, are what make coaching so special, and I am grateful to be surrounded by the best of the best at Maryland. It has been a privilege being a part of winning championships these past two seasons and look forward to many more to come.”
Blair coached at Virginia Commonwealth for three seasons before coming to College Park. Prior to her time in Richmond, Blair served as an assistant and interim head coach at UT Arlington, and an assistant at Colgate, North Texas, and her alma mater, Southern Methodist.
Blair helped the Rams sign a top 30 recruiting class and the top class in the Atlantic 10. Over her time in Richmond, the Rams made a WNIT appearance and recorded the second-most wins in school history with 23.
Blair spent two seasons at North Texas, where she led the development of the Mean Green's guards and assisted with game strategy, scouting and served as the team’s defensive coordinator.
A Michigan native, Blair spent two seasons as the top assistant and eventually, interim head coach, at UT Arlington from 2011-2013. Blair coordinated the Mavericks' national recruiting efforts and headed the signing of an ESPN Hoopgurlz.com recruit and a National Junior College Athletic Association All-American. She coached UT Arlington in its final eight games of the 2013 season and led the team to a win over eventual WAC Champion Idaho.
From 2009-2011, Blair served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Colgate.
After graduation, Blair spent 10 years coaching at her alma mater, SMU. She helped lead the Mustangs to a pair of Conference USA regular season titles, two NCAA Tournament appearances and two WNIT bids. SMU reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2000.
Blair was a three-year starting point guard for the Mustangs from 1995-1999 and led SMU to NCAA Tournament berths in 1996, 1998 and 1999. A two-year team captain, Blair was named Second Team All-WAC in 1998. She racked up academic accolades and graduated cum laude with a degree in business administration from SMU in 1999.
Updated Sept 23, 2024
