ARCATA, Calif.--- Keri Rocha Carollo '97 lead the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's basketball team to their fourth NCAA Division II Final Four appearance during her 20-year career at the helm of the Warhawks' program. Carollo was named the 2021-22 State of Wisconsin Coach of the Year as well as Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) and D3hoops.com Region Coach of the Year.
During her time as the Warhawks' head women's basketball coach, Carollo has an overall record of 391-160 including a 207-93 record in conference games. She has guided the Warhawks to twelve twenty-win seasons including this year's 28-5 record. Wisconsin-Whitewater lost to Hope College 71-58 in the NCAA Division III National Championship Game in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
This was her fifth time being named the WIAC Coach of the Year and second time being named the D3hoops.com Region Coach of the Year. The Warhawks had four All-WIAC honorees including Aleah Grundahl who was named the Player of the Year of the WIAC. Carollo was a finalist for the WBCA NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year.
"This was an incredible season for us," said Carollo. "We had two super seniors along with our captains that had one goal of capturing the National Championship. This year was something special as we had both the talent and commitment to achieve that goal. This was a special year for us as a team and we had numerous memories."
Carollo graduated from Humboldt with a bachelor's in sport/recreation management. She received her master's in exercise and sports science/sports administration from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where she was a graduate assistant coach for two years.
"I am extremely proud and impressed with all of Keri's accomplishments in 20-years at Whitewater," said Martin. "She's built Whitewater into a consistent powerhouse in the WIAC conference, a regular participate in the NCAA tournament and an impressive four trips to the Final Four. Her program represents what a true student-athlete embodies, excellence in the classroom, on the court and in the community. On top of that, Keri's leadership abilities are recognized as she's Whitewater's Senior Women's Administrator and Assistant Director of Compliance."
During her intercollegiate career at Humboldt, Carollo played for head coach Pam Martin. The four-year letter-winner help lead the Jacks to its first conference championship during her junior season.
"Head coach (Pam) Martin guided and challenged me during my academic and athletic career at Humboldt. She had played a key role in my collegiate coaching career. I owe a lot to Coach and her assistant, Carol."
Carollo was a three-year starter for the Lumberjacks. She earned All-Conference honors during her senior season.
"Keri (Carollo) was a coach's dream," added Martin. "She came into the program as a freshman with intangible qualities that you can't teach. She was self-motivated, hard-working, intelligent, fiery, intense and a competitive player who hated to lose. As a freshman, she was an aggressive two-guard who defended, rebounded and shot three-for-ten from the three-point line. Her sophomore year, she started 18 games and became a threat from three-point land. During her junior and senior year, she was a volume shooter with outstanding accuracy. As a senior, she shot 41.8% from beyond the three-point line and was third in the nation at the NCAA Division II."
Besides leading the Jacks to its first conference championship, they also were the first team to receive a bid to the NCAA Regionals. During her time at Humboldt, the Jacks finished in the top four in the conference.
After graduating from Humboldt, she served as the Head Freshman Girls' Basketball Coach from 1996-97 at Arcata High School. From 1997-1999, she was named the Graduate Assistant for the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. In 1999, Carollo was named the Assistant Basketball Coach for University of Wisconsin-Stout and was promoted to the Associate Head Basketball Coach for the 2001-02 season. She was named the Head Basketball Coach in 2002 at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
