Keith Boucher enters his 19th year as head coach of the Keene State women's basketball team after leading the Owls' to their most successful season in Division III and the Little East Conference last season.
 
Under Boucher's guidance, KSC not only had its best finish in the LEC standings (2nd place), but earned its first NCAA tournament berth, advancing to the second round.
 "I think last season help validate the hard work the coaching staff has put into the program," said Boucher.  "We had a team that competed every night. "Hopefully, this year's team will carry over the same will to win."  
 
Combining the talents of a strong veteran nucleus with a group of ready-for-primetime sophomore class and several promising recruits, Boucher feels his team has the talent, flexibility and depth maintain its high standing in the competitive Little East Conference. 
 
Following a season where the Owls made their fourth post-season tournament appearance in the past six years, Boucher looks forward to the challenge of integrating the talents of his 17-player roster into a competitive team.
 
Adjustments are nothing new for Boucher, who has seen the team's success fluctuate with each season. He inherited a NECC championship squad in 1989-90 that posted a 23-7 record and became KSC's first-ever women's basketball NCAA Tournament team.  The Owls returned to post-season play a few years later, when they reached the ECAC Championship game in 1992-93.
 
Since moving to Division III and the LEC in 1997, the Owls have made three trips to the ECAC tournament, earned their first-ever LEC championship berth in 2004-05, and culminated their 10-year Division III tenure with last year's NCAA tournament berth.  
 
A graduate of Plymouth State College, where he played football and baseball, Boucher went on to receive his master's degree in physical education from Norwich University. The Lebanon, N.H., native began his coaching career as the boys' basketball coach at Timberlane High School and softball coach at Hanover High School, before returning to Norwich as assistant men's basketball coach. After serving in a trial basis for a year, he was officially named the Owls eighth coach in the fall of 1990.
 
Always putting a competitive team on the floor, Boucher has gained a solid reputation for his meticulous preparation, and for getting his players to perform at their highest level. He will use the same positive approach as he incorporates a large and talented group a players into a successful team this season.

After serving as an assistant the past four years, Kate Fillion has been elevated to the position of associate head coach with the Keene State women's basketball team this season.
 
"Kate has been a key part of our success and I feel her new position demonstrates the confidence I have in her ability to lead the team in my absence," said Boucher. "She shares my same philosophy and has a strong rapport with team members."
 
Fillion will continue to work with Owl guard and help in game strategy, scouting, and recruiting efforts. 
 
A four-year starter (1997-2001) at rival Plymouth State, Fillion holds the Panther career record for three-point baskets made.  She capped her career by being selected to play in the senior NEWBA all-star game. Fillion, who earned her degree in health science, helped Plymouth State earn a pair of ECAC Tournament berths in her final two seasons and served as student assistant coach on the 2001 team which claimed the ECAC Championship.
 
Fillion also had success at the scholastic level.  A native of Littleton, N.H., Fillion was a member of two Littleton High School State Class M Championship teams and still holds the state tournament three-point record.

Ryan Margaitis begins his first season as a member of the Keene State women's basketball coaching staff.

Originally from Litchfield, Connecticut, Margaitis comes to KSC after serving last year as the head girls' basketball coach at Fall Mountain Regional High School (FMRHS). "I saw his team playing during our Christmas tournament and was impressed with the job Ryan did," said Boucher. "I thought he was a good communicator and got the most out of the team's talent."

"I'm really excited about moving up to the college level," said Margaitis. "I've been to a ton of Keene State games over the years, so I'm very familiar with them."

A 1,000-point career scorer at Wamago High in Litchfield, Margaitis played a season at Springfield College. He began his coaching career in Connecticut, before spending a year with Coach Phil Hebert at Keene High then moving on to FMRHS.

The addition of Margaitis will bring unusual dynamics to the KSC bench. Ryan and fiancée Kate are engaged to be married next year.