Georgian Court University Athletics

2010-11 marks Valerie Curtis's fourth season as head coach of the Georgian Court University basketball team.

After rebuilding in her first season, the Lions made great strides in 08-09, improving to 13-14 overall and an impressive 9-9 mark in the CACC. The season was highlighted with key road victories over CACC foes, Philadelphia University and Caldwell College.

The 2009-10 squad, after winning its opening game of the season for the first time since 2002, never seemed to gain consistency, finishing the campaign at 8-18. The Lions did have their glimpses of dominance, however, including the season-sweep of CACC-rival, The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP), which had not happened since the 02-03 season.

Curtis came to GCU via Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania where she guided the Lady Eagles for three seasons. Following a 4-23 record in her first season, the Lady Eagles were the third-most improved team in the nation in 2005-06 with a record of 17-9, the first winning season for Lock Haven in a decade.

Curtis began her collegiate career as a student-athlete at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC). While there, Valerie was a starter and leading scorer for the Firebirds. In 1993, Curtis led NCAA Division II women’s basketball with 6.1 steals per game (135 total). She still ranks second on the nation’s single-season chart for steals. Having finished her collegiate career averaging 4.7 steals per game (318 steals), Valerie ranks third on the NCAA’s all-time list in steals average. While leading her team in 1995 to a record of 20-6, the University of the District of Columbia earned a berth in the 1995 NCAA Division II tournament.

Following her stellar playing career, Curtis joined the UDC coaching staff as an assistant coach for two seasons from 1995-1997. Along with assistant coaching, Valerie served as the coordinator of Martha’s Table Adolescent Program, which counseled and motivated disadvantaged teens as a project site director of the Communities in Schools program in Washington, D.C. Curtis also administrated and implemented the development of the D.C. Reads program at selected elementary schools.

In 1998, Curtis joined Fresno State as an assistant coach while also serving as recruiting coordinator and opponent scout for four seasons. Curtis also led pre-season and post-season conditioning while serving as student-athlete academic advisor before returning to the east coast in 2002 and serving as an assistant coach at Lock Haven. Following the 2003-2004 season, Curtis took over the reigns and assumed the position of head basketball coach.

Prior to attending UDC, Curtis served in the United States Navy for four years. At the University of the District of Columbia, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Health Education in 1996 and a Master’s of Science degree in Public Administration in 1998.

Among her duties at GCU, Coach Curtis serves to implement the NCAA Division II’s Community Engagement Initiative on Georgian Court’s campus. The Division II initiative focuses on the interaction between Division II institutions and their local communities. The goal of the platform is to engage Georgian Court’s community actively in the life of our campus as it is a key component of the development of our students.

Coaching Record 

2004-05    Loch Haven         4-23     .148    
2005-06    Loch Haven         17-9     .654
2006-07    Loch Haven         12-15   .444
2007-08    Georgian Court    7-20    .259
2008-09    Georgian Court    13-14  .481 
2009-10    Georgian Court    8-18    .308           

(6 years)                              61-99    .381