Karen Weitz, a name synonymous with high school basketball in Nevada, has added another feather to her cap. Already a celebrated coach of the girls’ basketball team at Centennial High School, Weitz has also taken on the challenge of coaching the boys’ team.

Weitz’s journey in sports began as a collegiate basketball player and later as a track and field athlete. She began her teaching and coaching career in 1992. Her first stint as a coach 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. Under her leadership, the first Centennial team won the division title, city championship and posted a 30-1 record before losing in the state playoffs.

Weitz’s coaching prowess truly shone in 2002 when her 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.

With over 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.

After careful deliberation last spring, Karen Weitz took on the challenge of coaching Centennial’s boys basketball team. However, she first sought the approval of her girls’ team. With their enthusiastic support, Weitz took on the dual role, maintaining the sustained excellence she had built with the girls’ team over 23 years while simultaneously rebuilding the boys’ program. The girls’ team continued their winning streak in 2023, seeking their eighth consecutive state championship. In contrast, the boys’ team showed significant improvement, finishing 16-8, 5-5 in league play, a marked improvement from the previous season’s 10-14 record.

Weitz, now retired from teaching, is committed to coaching both programs again next season. Her coaching philosophy, which emphasizes discipline and structure, has been instrumental in transforming the boys’ team. The boys’ team, which had not captured a single state championship or qualified for the state tournament since 2013, was revitalized under Weitz’s leadership. The team’s newfound discipline and structure, coupled with Weitz’s winning ways, have instilled a sense of optimism and excitement among the players, who are now eager to establish a winning culture similar to that of the girls’ team.

Karen Weitz’s dedication to her students, her teams, and the sport of basketball is unparalleled. Her legacy continues to inspire future generations of athletes.