Eastern Michigan Athletics
Women's Basketball
Hempen, Katie
Katie Hempen
- Title:
- Graduate Assistant
- Email:
- khempen@emich.edu
- Phone:
- 734.487.0481
Katie Hempen enters her fourth season as a full-time assistant coach after spending two seasons in both the graduate assistant and director of operations roles for EMU’s women’s basketball program.
Last season, Hempen helped guide freshman Olivia Smith as she led the team in made triples during her rookie season. Additionally, EMU saw three or more players score in double-digit figures in the same game in 20 of the 30 contests this season, topping the 2022-23 17. Leading the Green and White with the most double-digit performances was Ce'Nara Skanes who hit the double-figures mark in 19 outings en route to entering the 1,0000 point club. Following close behind was Lachelle Austin who posted 18 double-digit scoring games.
As a team, the total amount of points scored in the 2022-23 season compared to the previous season improved by over 100 points under the offensive teachings of Hempen and the rest of the staff.
In her second season, the Arizona State all-time leader in three-pointers (185), continued her contribution to Eastern’s offense with the development of multi-statistical leader, Areanna Combs and three-point team leader Danielle Rainey. Combs finished the year averaging 18.2 points per game, shooting 6.38 within the arc, and 5.04 from the line adding to the teams overall 1,804 total points on the season – over 500 points more than the season before.
Individually, the amount of points produced by Eastern’s offense continued to grow under the guide of Hempen. With a 66.8 points per game average, EMU shot 10 points over it's average in seven of the 27 contests in 2021-22, with six of the seven being Eastern Michigan victories.
In her first season with the Green and White, Hempen played a critical role in helping Head Coach Fred Castro and the rest of the staff guide the team through the unprecedented challenges set forth by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the numerous season-altering factors, the staff was able to help guide the team to a 10-10 overall record and one of just eight spots in the annual Mid-American Conference Tournament.
Hempen helped build the EMU offense into one of the most consistent scoring units in the MAC last season. Eastern, which averaged 64.1 points per game, scored within two points of its average in seven of its contests (35%), and within four points of its average in 15-of-20 games (75%). Those numbers helped EMU to establish a winning identity on the road, where it put up an impressive 6-2 record. Defensively, no team was better than Eastern Michigan in 2020-21. The Eagles allowed just 62.2 points per game in 2020-21, which is the best of any team in the league. EMU’s field goal percentage defense was also first, as opponents shot just 37.1 percent against the Green and White.
Individually, Hempen was a critical mentor to All-MAC honoree Ce’Nara Skanes, who made debut as an Eagle in 2020-21. Skanes, playing for the first time this season after transferring to EMU at the beginning of the 2019-20 campaign, collected Third Team All-MAC honors for her outstanding play this season. She is the eighth player in program history to collect the recognition, and first since Danielle Minott did it in 2017-18.
Prior to the 2019-20 season, Hempen was promoted to the director of operations position prior to the start of the season. In that role, Hempen was responsible for numerous aspects of the program’s daily activity, including budgeting, travel coordination, and campus communication for her student-athletes.
Prior to joining the Eagles, Hempen spent time coaching in the high school and AAU ranks holding posts with Desert Mountain High School, and Arizona Select Club’s U16 and U13 squads.
One of the best players to ever suit up for Arizona State, Hempen concluded her career as ASU’s all-time leader in three-pointers with 185 makes. Additionally, she set the single-season record for three-pointers (76) during the 2014-15 season, while also setting the Sun Devils’ NCAA Tournament records for three-pointers in a game (6) and career three-pointers (19).
A two-time All-Pac-12 honoree, Hempen began her collegiate career at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. There, she was selected as the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, named to the OVC All-Newcomer Team, and was a three-time OVC Newcomer of the Week honoree.
Hempen graduated from Arizona State in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in family and human development. She added a master’s degree in Sport management from EMU in 2020.
Hempen and her wife, Devin, reside in Ypsilanti, Mich. The couple recently had a baby girl, Sage-Elizabeth in 2022.
Last season, Hempen helped guide freshman Olivia Smith as she led the team in made triples during her rookie season. Additionally, EMU saw three or more players score in double-digit figures in the same game in 20 of the 30 contests this season, topping the 2022-23 17. Leading the Green and White with the most double-digit performances was Ce'Nara Skanes who hit the double-figures mark in 19 outings en route to entering the 1,0000 point club. Following close behind was Lachelle Austin who posted 18 double-digit scoring games.
As a team, the total amount of points scored in the 2022-23 season compared to the previous season improved by over 100 points under the offensive teachings of Hempen and the rest of the staff.
In her second season, the Arizona State all-time leader in three-pointers (185), continued her contribution to Eastern’s offense with the development of multi-statistical leader, Areanna Combs and three-point team leader Danielle Rainey. Combs finished the year averaging 18.2 points per game, shooting 6.38 within the arc, and 5.04 from the line adding to the teams overall 1,804 total points on the season – over 500 points more than the season before.
Individually, the amount of points produced by Eastern’s offense continued to grow under the guide of Hempen. With a 66.8 points per game average, EMU shot 10 points over it's average in seven of the 27 contests in 2021-22, with six of the seven being Eastern Michigan victories.
In her first season with the Green and White, Hempen played a critical role in helping Head Coach Fred Castro and the rest of the staff guide the team through the unprecedented challenges set forth by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the numerous season-altering factors, the staff was able to help guide the team to a 10-10 overall record and one of just eight spots in the annual Mid-American Conference Tournament.
Hempen helped build the EMU offense into one of the most consistent scoring units in the MAC last season. Eastern, which averaged 64.1 points per game, scored within two points of its average in seven of its contests (35%), and within four points of its average in 15-of-20 games (75%). Those numbers helped EMU to establish a winning identity on the road, where it put up an impressive 6-2 record. Defensively, no team was better than Eastern Michigan in 2020-21. The Eagles allowed just 62.2 points per game in 2020-21, which is the best of any team in the league. EMU’s field goal percentage defense was also first, as opponents shot just 37.1 percent against the Green and White.
Individually, Hempen was a critical mentor to All-MAC honoree Ce’Nara Skanes, who made debut as an Eagle in 2020-21. Skanes, playing for the first time this season after transferring to EMU at the beginning of the 2019-20 campaign, collected Third Team All-MAC honors for her outstanding play this season. She is the eighth player in program history to collect the recognition, and first since Danielle Minott did it in 2017-18.
Prior to the 2019-20 season, Hempen was promoted to the director of operations position prior to the start of the season. In that role, Hempen was responsible for numerous aspects of the program’s daily activity, including budgeting, travel coordination, and campus communication for her student-athletes.
Prior to joining the Eagles, Hempen spent time coaching in the high school and AAU ranks holding posts with Desert Mountain High School, and Arizona Select Club’s U16 and U13 squads.
One of the best players to ever suit up for Arizona State, Hempen concluded her career as ASU’s all-time leader in three-pointers with 185 makes. Additionally, she set the single-season record for three-pointers (76) during the 2014-15 season, while also setting the Sun Devils’ NCAA Tournament records for three-pointers in a game (6) and career three-pointers (19).
A two-time All-Pac-12 honoree, Hempen began her collegiate career at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. There, she was selected as the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, named to the OVC All-Newcomer Team, and was a three-time OVC Newcomer of the Week honoree.
Hempen graduated from Arizona State in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in family and human development. She added a master’s degree in Sport management from EMU in 2020.
Hempen and her wife, Devin, reside in Ypsilanti, Mich. The couple recently had a baby girl, Sage-Elizabeth in 2022.
| The Katie Hempen File | ||
| Name: | Katie Hempen | |
| Hometown: | Highland, Ill. | |
| College: | Eastern Michigan University - M.S. in Sport Management - 2020 Arizona State University - Bachelor's degree in Family and Human Development - 2014 |
|
| Family: | Wife - Devin, Daughter - Sage | |
| Professional Experience | ||
| Year | School/Team | Position |
| 2020-Pres. | Eastern Michigan University | Assistant Women's Basketball Coach |
| 2019-20 | Eastern Michigan University | Director of Operations - Women's Basketball |
| 2018-19 | Eastern Michigan University | Graduate Assistant - Women's Basketball |
| 2017-18 | Desert Mountain (HS) | Assistant Women's Basketball Coach |
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