Kara Haun-Rehbaum
Before coming to Canisius College in 1980, Kara Haun-Rehbaum was a star on the hardwood at Irondequoit High school, and set records for the most career points (1,046) and rebounds (859) and was a three-time All-County selection (’78-’80).
As a member of the Golden Griffins, she continued her dominant play. She was a three-time All-American at Canisius, and graduated in 1984 as the school’s all-time leading scorer (1,661 points/now ranks 3rd), and rebounder (1,075). In fact, she is the only Golden Griffin cager (men’s or women’s) to record 1,000 rebounds, and also the only player to have more than 1,000 points and rebounds. She also led the Griffs to its first NCAA Tournament berth (1983 DII Quarterfinals) and the team was 91-28 during Kara’s tenure.
She continued her career, playing professionally for the Atlanta Comets of the Women’s American Basketball Association for one season.
Following her playing career, she returned to Canisius as an assistant coach (1986-1993), and later the head coach of the Golden Griffins (1993-98). She was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Coach of the Year after guiding the Griffs to a 19-8 record in the 1994-95 season.
In addition to coaching the Golden Griffins, Haun-Rehbaum coached the Hilbert Hawks for five seasons, and for the past 19 years she has served as the assistant athletics director at Hilbert.
Her career as a player, coach and administrator has been highly distinguished, and she has received numerous honors and awards. In 2018, she was presented with the Hilbert College Mother Collete Award. In addition to her MAAC Coach of the Year award, she was the recipient of the Converse-Basketball Coaches Association of New York Coach of the Year (1995) and she was a NCAA Division II All-American (1982 to 1984).
She was inducted into the Canisius College Sports Hall of Fame (1995) and the Section V Basketball Hall of Fame (2005). In 2014, she was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame – Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Honor Roll Class, and in 2011 she was recognized again by Canisius as a member of the 1982-83 women’s basketball team.
