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| SELINA B.KOHN Athletic Director Paine College Lions |
While Kohn ascends to the No. 1 position in the school's athletic department, her boys - all 8 and under - still see her as the same person.
"To them, I'm still 'Mommy'," she said, "and dinner needs to be served soon."
Kohn is the first female to lead a collegiate program in the Aiken-Augusta area. She also becomes the second female athletic director in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, S Penny Minter of Lane College.
Kohn served as Paine's associate athletic director and senior women's administrator before taking the program's top position. She replaces Tim Duncan, who stepped down last month to become athletic director at Clayton State.
Kohn served two stints as the school's interim athletic director. From January to April in 2011, she bridged the gap between Ron Spry and Duncan. She again served in an interim role in July after the departure of Duncan before getting the gig full-time.
"I think it's a great move," said Georgia Regents athletic director Clint Bryant, who attended the press conference. "Selina spent her time not only coaching but in athletic administration. She's been a loyal member of Paine. I just think it's a tremendous hire."
Germaletta Dyson-Brown, a former standout volleyball and women's basketball player at Paine, added: "I think it's amazing that Paine College's athletic program has been turned over to Coach Kohn, It was definitely the move that needed to be made. She's had a great impact on PC athletics and athletes, both on and off the court."
One of Kohn's first moves as athletic director was restructuring her department. Football coach Greg Ruffin added the title of associate athletic director, while volleyball coach Kisha Lucette becomes the school's senior woman administrator. Jonavon Stephens was hired to become the school's assistant athletic director for external relations.
Kohn grew up in south Georgia, starring as a guard at Thomas County Central High School. She then went to Albany State where her excellent play continued. From 1990-93, she set four NCAA Division II records, including: most assists in a game (23), assists in a season (309), season-assist average (11.9) and career assists (927, 107 games). After graduating from Albany State in 1994 with a biology degree, she became the team's assistant coach.
The 43-year-old Kohn came to Paine in 1998, interviewing for the women's basketball coach with Spry. By the end of the interview, she got the job. And she got the volleyball job. And then she got another job, assisting the track and field program.
"I think my tenure here has been neat," she said. "It has allowed me to grow as a person. And what I love about Augusta is when I came I knew no one. But after the first week, it was almost like I was at home."
In 2005, Kohn's volleyball team posted a 35–4 record, which resulted in a coach of the year honor. On the hardwood, she led the Lady Lions to new heights during her eight-season tenure, when she won two Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference coach of the year awards.
In 2005, she led the Lady Lions to their first SIAC Tournament championship as well as their first appearance in the Division II Tournament. The following year, Paine repeated as SIAC Tournament champs, making a second trip to the NCAA Tournament. Following the 2005-06 season, Kohn had her first child and handed the reins of the basketball program to her assistant, Terry Palmer. She remained at the school as volleyball coach and senior women's administrator.
In 2011, Kohn was inducted into the Paine College Athletic Hall of Fame. Earlier this year, she was named to the NCAA's 40th Anniversary Tribute Team.
She is married to Ben Kohn, a former basketball player at Paine. They have three sons: Marcus (8), Christopher (6) and Brian (3).
PAINE COLLEGE LIONS ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
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