Karen Weitz: A Legend of Centennial High School
Karen Weitz, born on June 5, 1968, is a legend in her own right at Centennial High School. An accomplished athlete at both the high school and collegiate level, Weitz’s journey to becoming one of the most successful girls’ high school basketball coaches in the country began with her own college career. She played collegiate basketball at both Boise State and Scottsdale Community College, later earning a scholarship in track and field at UNLV. In 1988, Weitz won the National Title in javelin and was named 1st Team All-American.
Weitz graduated from UNLV in 1992 and began her teaching and coaching career. Her first coaching stint was at Swainston Middle School in Las Vegas, where she led the first-year girls’ middle school program to the city championship during the 1994-95 season. In 1999, Weitz moved to the newly opened Centennial High School to teach physical education and run the girls’ basketball program. The first Centennial team under her guidance won the division title, city championship, and posted a 30-1 record before losing in the state playoffs.
In 2002, Weitz’s team won the Nevada large-school state basketball championship and completed a perfect 34-0 season. This was the first time in 21 years that a school from southern Nevada won a large-school state girls’ basketball title. Known for her skillful coaching and teaching, Weitz exemplifies competitiveness while instilling the development of life skills in her players. She has built her programs on discipline, setting high standards, and accountability.
Her philosophy has led to unprecedented success. In fact, no coach has won more games in Nevada high school basketball history than Weitz. With more than 700 wins and counting as the girls’ coach at Cheyenne and Centennial, she has built a dynasty with 14 state championships, including eight straight titles. She has been named the Nevada State Coach of the Year five times, the USA Today Coach of the Year in 2016 and 2018, and the Max Preps Coach of the Year in 2016. Her teams have also been nationally ranked 12 times.
In May of 2022, she took on the responsibility of coaching the Centennial boys’ teams, in addition to staying on to oversee the girls team. In 2023, she served as the McDonald’s All American Head Coach. Karen Weitz’s legacy at Centennial High School continues to inspire future generations of athletes.
