Karen Middleton

Biography

Karen Middleton was hired to the Duke women’s basketball staff in May of 2023 and serves as an assistant coach with the Blue Devils. Middleton aided the Blue Devils to a 29-8 overall record in 2024-25, including a 14-4 mark in ACC play, while helping Duke capture the program's ninth ACC Tournament title and advance to its 12th Elite Eight. Additionally, Middleton helped coach Toby Fournier (ACC Rookie of the Year, All-ACC First Team, ACC All-Freshman Team), Jadyn Donovan (ACC All-Defensive Team) and Ashlon Jackson (All-ACC Second Team, ACC All-Tournament First Team) to major conference honors. In her first season at Duke, Middleton helped lead the Blue Devils to a 22-12 overall record and the program’s 18th NCAA Sweet 16 appearance. Additionally, under her guidance, she helped Oluchi Okananwa earn 2024 ACC Sixth Player of the Year honors and a place on the ACC All-Freshman Team, while assisting Reigan Richardson to All-ACC Second Team honors. Middleton, a 30-plus-year coaching veteran with 13 years of head coaching experience, came to Duke after serving as head coach of the UW-La Crosse women’s basketball team from 2016-2023. During her seven-year tenure with the Eagles, Middleton compiled a 111-58 record (.657), coached 18 players to All-WIAC honors while leading the squad to an at-large bid to the 2020 NCAA Division III Tournament. A native of Jefferson, S.C., Middleton served as associate head coach at Cal State Fullerton University in 2015-16, overseeing the day-to-day as