ST. PAUL, Minn. – Concordia-St. Paul head women's basketball coach Amanda Johnson has announced the addition of Kristen Lee to the program's top assistant coaching position for the upcoming season.

Lee, a native of Dawson, Minnesota and graduate of St. Catherine University in St. Paul will primarily work with guards while assisting in all aspects of the program. The position was vacated by Ashley Ellis-Milan, who accepted a position with the Minnesota Lynx organization.

"Kristen will be a great addition to our staff. She is so passionate about the game of basketball and will be a great role model for the players to look up to," said Johnson. "Kristen's leadership skills from being a three year captain when she played across town at St. Kate's has definitely helped carry over into her role of being a college coach. I am really looking forward to working with her on a daily basis and am excited for the future of our women's basketball program."

Most recently, Lee was the top assistant at Northwestern College (Iowa), helping the Red Raiders to a 25-9 season including a run to the NAIA Division II national semifinals. Northwestern also finished 16-4 in the GPAC, finishing second in the conference. The program produced back-to-back 20-plus win seasons with Lee on staff, going 20-12 in 2016-17 and reaching the second round (Sweet 16) of the NAIA Division II Tournament.
 
Lee's impact on the program was immediate, joining a Red Raiders squad that was 15-14 overall the year before her tenure as an assistant. She also served as an admissions counselor as part of her position on Northwestern's campus.

"I am extremely excited to join the Golden Bear family. Coach Johnson is building a great culture of women's basketball at Concordia and I am very grateful to be a part of it," said Lee. "I am eager to get to work with our ladies and look forward to developing relationships with future Golden Bears!"
 
Her college coaching career began as a graduate assistant at Southwest Minnesota State University where she earned a master's degree in physical education. She also served as a coach with the Minnesota Fury AAU program.
 
Her playing career at St. Kate's included a three year run as team captain. She ranks second in program history in three-pointers and earned MIAC All-Academic Team honors three times. She earned her degree in exercise sports science.

The coaching staff is rounded out by the addition of graduate assistant coach Haydn Becker, who spent the previous two seasons as a Golden Bear player. The Andover, Minnesota native was a transfer from the University of Sioux Falls. She moves into the GA position held by Sophie Kenney who worked with CSP for two seasons while pursuing her master's degree.

"The 2018-19 season cannot come soon enough, and with the addition of new staff it will make for an even more exciting future. I'm very thankful for the hard work and dedication from my previous staff. Ashley Ellis-Milan and Sophie Kenney truly cared about the team and worked hard every day to make us better. I wish them all the best in their new endeavors and I really enjoyed the time spent with them," Johnson concluded.