Hofstra University Athletics

Denise King is entering her fifth season as an assistant coach at Hofstra in 2017-18.

The Pride returned to the CAA Quarterfinals and Ashunae Durant was named All-CAA Second Team in 2016-17. Hofstra recorded its second straight 20-win season in 2015-16, with King helping lead Hofstra to a 25-9 record, including a 14-1 mark at home. The team earned a berth in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) for the fifth time in program history and the second consecutive year. The Pride advanced through the first three rounds of the WNIT before falling in the quarterfinals. Three Hofstra players were named to All-Colonial Athletic Association teams at the conclusion of the regular season.

In 2014-15, King was part of the staff that guided Hofstra to the team’s first 20-win season since 2010. The Pride advanced to the CAA Championship title game for the first time since joining the league and qualified for the WNIT. King’s preparation helped Hofstra post the second-ever win over a nationally ranked team in program history when the Pride bested No. 23 James Madison on the road.

The 2014-15 season also saw King help Ashunae Durant win the CAA Rookie of the Year award as well as being named the Metropolitan Rookie of the Year and Full Court’s Mid-Major Freshman of the Year.
 
In her first season, she helped guide Anma Onyeuku and Annie Payton to All-CAA Third Team selections and Elo Edeferioka to a spot on the league’s all-rookie squad.

King joined the Pride after serving as an assistant coach for Mount St. Mary’s for four seasons, where she was the lead recruiting coordinator. She also organized community service projects while embracing responsibilities as an academic mentor. She joined the Hofstra staff after helping the Mount earn the program’s first appearance in the Northeast Conference semifinals since the 2000-01 season.

In 2011-12, King helped the Mount post a 10-8 conference record and 14 wins overall, marking the most overall victories for the program in three years and the team’s first winning record in NEC play since 2006-07.

Thanks in part to her work with the guards, Mount St. Mary’s ranked first in the NEC in assists and steals, and sixth in Division I in steals in 2011. In her last two seasons, three Mount players earned either first or second-team NEC postseason honors.

A four-year standout player for Rhode Island, King began her coaching career at her alma mater, where she served as an assistant on the Rams staff for four seasons. Her responsibilities included team travel and the program’s film exchange program as well as scouting and recruitment roles. 

While on the staff, Rhode Island qualified for four Atlantic 10 Tournament appearances and advanced to the quarterfinals in each of her final two seasons. King coached two 1,000-point scorers at Rhode Island, three all-conference selections and one A-10 All-Defensive team player.

As a player, the Catonsville, Maryland, native was one of only 18 players to reach the 1,000-point milestone with the Rams and is 15th on the program’s all-time scoring list with 1,023 points. She is also fourth in Rhode Island history with 118 three-pointers as well as fourth in free throw percentage (.772, 224-290), fourth in assists (339) and ninth in 3-point percentage (.312, 118-378).

A 2004 graduate of Rhode Island, King earned a degree in business management, graduating cum laude.