The University of Virginia's College at Wise Athletics

Kristin Kunzman will begin her seventh season directing the women’s basketball program this winter. A year ago, UVa-Wise tallied 21 victories and advanced to the semifinal round of the Mountain East Conference Tournament. Additionally, the Cavaliers were regionally ranked by D2SIDA throughout the year and finished third in the MEC regular season standings.

The 21 wins were the most for the program since becoming a NCAA Division II member and rank as the fourth most wins in a single-season in school history. The 21 wins marked an eight-win improvement over the previous season and represented the fourth time in the last five seasons the team has increased its win total.

Under Kunzman’s guidance, six student-athletes have eclipsed the 1,000 point plateau at UVa-Wise. Most recently, the trio of Taylor Sandidge, Kayla Carey and Makenzie Cluesman reached the mark.

All six women who have scored over 1,000 points while playing for Kunzman are inside the school’s top 13 in all-time scoring.

The coach has directed the Cavaliers to a win in the MEC Tournament for four consecutive seasons. The 34 combined wins over the last two seasons are the most for the program in a decade.

Home court has played a pivotal role in the program’s turnaround. Kunzman’s teams have posted a 21-6 record inside the Prior Center over the last two seasons. Entering this season, UVa-Wise has yet to lose a non-conference home game to a NCAA Division II school under Kunzman’s watch.

Originally from Fairfax County, the coach attended college at the University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky, but graduated with a four-year degree in communications at Millersville University in Pennsylvania. The coach was a student-athlete at both universities. 

While on the University of the Cumberlands women's basketball team, Kunzman and her teammates advanced to the NAIA National Sweet Sixteen and also claimed the Mid-South Conference Championship. After transferring to Millersville University, Kunzman was captain of the Millersville Basketball Team, a NCAA Division II Regional Participant, and in 2008 she helped the team to an undefeated regular season record and the PSAC East Division Champions. She was also a PSAC Scholar Athlete, a basketball camp and gym supervisor, and a camp counselor.

Kunzman's basketball career continued on the sidelines as she went on to get her master's degree in business administration. From 2009 to 2010, she was the assistant women's basketball coach at Daniel Webster College where her team set many school records and also garnered the 2010 NECC regular season championship. Kunzman assisted in coaching the team to the third winning season in school history and to the first championship game appearance in school history. She also coached and guided the 2010 NECC Player of the Year.

Kunzman became the head women's basketball coach for the 2010-11season at Daniel Webster College. During her reign, she was awarded the New Hampshire 2011 NCAA DIII All-State Coach of the Year. She led the team to their first NECC Conference Championship and their first NCAA appearance in program history. Kunzman also led them to the 2011 Key Largo Tournament Championship, and provided leadership and guidance to the 2011 NECC Player of the Year and the 2011 NECC Tournament MVP.

In addition to being both an assistant and head basketball coach at Daniel Webster College, she was also the head cross country coach from 2009-2011 and the senior women's administrator from 2010-2011. She assisted the athletic director, helped with community service projects, and oversaw all female athletes during her position as senior women's administrator.

Coach Kunzman resides in Wise.