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Over the last 26 years,
Karen Welliver has consistently coached one
of the preeminent California Community
College women’s basketball programs in the
state. With that kind of success during her
career, Welliver has put herself into the
category of only five coaches that have
eclipsed the 500-win mark. Last season,
Welliver had one of her best seasons in
recent memory, as she led her team to the
state tournament for the seventh time, while
they captured the South Coast Conference
championships with an undefeated record.
During her tenure, she has now guided her
teams to nine South Coast Conference
championships, while they have reached the
state tournament in six seasons. But back on
December 27, 2005, Welliver found herself in
an elite group, as she won her 500th
career game after defeated San Mateo
College, 75-51 at the Fullerton Tournament.
As one of only five coaches to ever eclipse
the 500-win barrier, Welliver has compiled a
record of 551-274 (.669) during her time
with the Falcons. They finished with a 26-9
record, with Welliver being chosen the
Southern California Coach of the Year, as
well as the South Coast Conference Coach of
the Year. This year’s team has three
returning players (including Cecily Garcia,
who missed last season while playing on the
softball team), along with a strong freshman
class.
Welliver welcomes
first-year assistant coach Trisha Raniewicz,
who takes over for Steve Johnson after he
left to coach at Long Beach City College.
The coaching staff will look to keep the
program at the top and take a shot at the
school’s first state championship. In
addition to winning nine conference titles
and seven appearances in the state
tournament, Welliver has led her teams to 18
20-win seasons, including a stretch where
they won 20 games in 17 of 19 seasons. Last
year was also the 16th year in a
row the Falcons advanced to the Southern
California Regional Playoffs and the 22nd
time in the past 23 years. Throughout her
career, Welliver has done a remarkable job
of maintaining a level of success at the
Norwalk campus and her teams have earned a
great deal off respect with their hard work
and dedication.
Whether it be a
predominantly freshmen laden team, or an
experienced one, Welliver has guided the
Falcons to either a South Coast Conference
championship or a second place finish in 17
of the past 19 seasons. Over one six-year
period, the Falcons completed each season
with less than 10 losses, while Welliver has
been honored by being named the SCC Coach of
the Year on five occasions.
After serving as Jeanine
Prindle's assistant coach for three seasons,
Welliver took over the helm and has
instilled a winning tradition that residents
in the community had never experienced
before from the women's program. Excellent
recruiting combined with the teaching
knowledge of Welliver, make the Falcons very
competitive in their quest to return to the
State Championships.
Welliver began her
coaching career at Magnolia High School in
Anaheim, where she coached the girl's
basketball team for three years and the
volleyball team for six years. Her
volleyball team captured one league
championship.
Known for her athletic
ability, Welliver played two years of
basketball at Cal State Long Beach, where
she squared off against three future Hall of
Fame selections. She also lettered in
basketball for three years in high school,
and also played volleyball for two seasons
and track for three years. She was honored
as her high school team’s team's Most
Valuable Player in both basketball and
volleyball.
Karen is married to
Bill Welliver, the brother of former
Cerritos College volleyball coach Nancy
Welliver and they reside in Anaheim.
Welliver earned her Bachelor's and Master's
Degree at Cal State Long Beach. |
