Returning for her seventh season as an assistant coach and 10th overall season on Cindy Griffin's staff in 2024-25 is Katie Kuester '12. Her day-to-day responsibilities include working primarily with the Hawks' post players and coordinating the team's recruiting efforts. Kuester is the team's lead in international recruiting.
Laura Ziegler (1st) and Talya Brugler (2nd) both made Atlantic 10 All-Conference teams in 2023-24, helping the Hawks to a school-record 28 wins and an appearance in the quarterfinals of the inaugural WBIT. The pair of forwards were also named First Team All-Big 5, securing the first Big 5 title since 2014-15. Under the direction of Kuester, Talya Brugler became the 29th Hawk to reach 1,000 career points, entering the top 10 in program history while Laura Ziegler nearly averaged a double-double on the season with 14.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. The two posts combined for 169 assists, 52 blocks and 43 steals.
Kuester played a pivotal role in the development of Talya Brugler (16.7 ppg), who became the first First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection since 2014-15 after earning A-10 Rookie of the Year in 2021-22. Kuester and the Hawks earned back-to-back Rookie of the Year selections in 2022-23, Laura Ziegler posting 11.8 points and 8.7 rebounds a game in her first season on Hawk Hill.
Promoted to assistant coach in June of 2018, Kuester had previously served as director of basketball operations for three seasons at SJU. She was also promoted to Recruiting Coordinator in May of 2021.
Prior to returning to her alma mater, Kuester spent the 2014-15 year as a member of Cindy Griffin’s former assistant coach Joe Logan's staff at Loyola (Md.). She helped in the development of a pair of All-Patriot League honorees.
One of the top shooters in Saint Joseph's history, Kuester finished her career in the program's top 10 for three-pointers (167) and free throw percentage (.861). Named to the All-Big 5 Second Team in 2010-11, she was also a standout off the court, earning Atlantic 10 Commissioner's Honor Roll and Saint Joseph's Athletic Director's Honor Roll recognition.
Following graduation, she served as director of basketball operations at Lehigh before moving onto the role of video coordinator at North Carolina in 2013-14, helping the team reach the Elite Eight during the 2014 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament and finish ranked seventh nationally in 2013-2014.
Kuester currently resides in Media, Pa. and holds her bachelor's degree in elementary education from Saint Joseph's and her master's degree in educational leadership from Lehigh. Her father, John Kuester, coached in the NBA for 20 years with the Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, and others. He also spent time in the collegiate coaching ranks.
