With a 54-51 overtime win over El Camino College on January 21, 2009, Karen Welliver won her 564^th California Community College women’s basketball game, becoming the all-time leader in coaching wins in the state. Welliver passed Tom Martinez, who won 563 games at San Mateo College. By the end of that season, she had 572 wins and completed her 27^th season as the Cerritos College head coach. Now entering her 30^th season, Welliver has put together a career 590-299 (.664) record and is closing in on her record 600^th career win. She has led her teams to 11 South Coast Conference championships and seven trips to the State Tournament. The Falcons won their third straight conference championship last season and advanced to the second round of the Southern California Regional Playoffs. The post-season bid was also the 18^th year in a row and her teams have reached the 20-win plateau in 19 of her seasons.

Back on December 27, 2005, Welliver found herself in an elite group, as one of only five coaches to ever eclipse the 500-win barrier when her team defeated San Mateo College, 75-51 at the Fullerton Tournament. The Falcons finished with a 21-13 record last year, while Welliver was selected the South Coast Conference South Division Coach of the Year. For this season, the team returns five sophomores and a strong group of incoming freshmen.

Welliver and third-year assistant coach Trisha Raniewicz will look to keep the program at the top of the elite teams in the state and take a shot at the school’s first state championship. In addition to winning 11 conference titles and seven appearances in the state tournament, Welliver has led her teams to 19 20-win seasons, including a stretch where they won 20 games in 18 of 20 seasons. Last year was also the 18^th year in a row the Falcons advanced to the Southern California Regional Playoffs and the 24^th time in the past 25 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 19 of the past 21 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.