New Head Basketball Coach For Westlake Girls

WESTLAKE, OH — The Westlake girls basketball program has a new head coach. Karen Swanson Haan, class of 1999, will lead the program, the district announced this week. Long time coach Art Daniels announced he would retire after the 2018 season.

"I am excited about the opportunity to return to my alma mater, a place that shaped me and helped me grow, not only to coach but to have a positive impact on players’ lives," Haan said on the district's website.

Haan's hiring still needs to be approved by the Board of Education but it seems extremely likely she'll be taking over the team. During her athletic career as a Lady Demon, Haan became one of the most accomplished athletes to ever come through Westlake.

She was a three sport athlete (basketball, volleyball, softball) that earned four varsity letters in basketball and was named Southwestern Conference MVP in her junior season. She was inducted into the Westlake High School Hall of Fame in 2017.

"I also have some unfinished business from my playing days as our teams fell short of winning an SWC Championship. It is my goal to not only put those numbers on our banner in the gym but to put up banners for district, regional and state titles. I will work tirelessly to make Westlake one of the premier girls’ basketball programs in the state," she said.

After graduating in 1999, Haan went on to play for the Fighting Irish at the University of Notre Dame. She was part of the 2001 National Championship team. She also graduated Cum Laude from the school.

She then went to the Cleveland-Marshall School of Law and earned her J.D. while graduating fourth in her class. In 2015, she took a position as an Assistant United States Attorney. She has also served as an adjunct professor at both Cleveland State University and Ursuline College.

Last year, she was the head coach of the Gilmour Academy junior varsity girls basketball team. She was an assistant coach for the varsity team, which were runners-up in the state championship game this year.

"I believe that the Demon fans will love our style of play and that my passion for the game of basketball, for my players, for the entire program from K-12, and my love of the Green and White will show through on a daily basis," she said.

Photo from Westlake City Schools