MaxPreps has named Karen Weitz, the girls’ basketball coach at Centennial High School in Las Vegas, the greatest female high school coach in Nevada. Over her 25 seasons at the helm, Weitz has led Centennial to 12 state championships and posted a remarkable 673-84 record, making it one of the top programs on the West Coast.

An accomplished athlete herself, Weitz’s journey to coaching was unexpected but incredibly successful. She played collegiate basketball at Boise State and Scottsdale Community College before earning a scholarship in track and field at UNLV. In 1988, she won the National Title in javelin and was named 1st Team All-American. After graduating from UNLV in 1992, she began teaching and coaching.

Weitz’s coaching career started 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, she 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. Weitz is known for her skillful coaching and teaching, exemplifying competitiveness while instilling the development of life skills in her players. She has built her programs on discipline, setting high standards, and accountability.

Weitz’s philosophy has led to unprecedented success. In fact, no coach has won more games in Nevada high school basketball history than Weitz. 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.

Her teams have also been nationally ranked 12 times. In May of 2022, she took on the responsibility of coaching the Centennial boys’ teams and staying on to oversee the girls team. In 2023, she served as the McDonald’s All-American Head Coach. Karen Weitz’s legacy continues to inspire future generations of athletes.