Bio

The list of accomplishments for Kori Stephenson just keeps on growing, including a national championship.

Stephenson, and her long-time staff of assistants, Sam Stevens & Ben Nelson completed the journey begun the previous year when they helped guide a freshman-dominated roster to a second place finish at the NJCAA Division II national championships.

Using an outstanding core of returnees from that squad, plus a mixture of important new faces, the T-Birds took the ultimate final step when they captured the national title by beating the event's first and second seeded teams on successive nights, culminated by a thrilling, 82-72, win over Highland (Kan.) in overtime during the 2013-14 season.

That completed a 28-5 season, the most wins and best overall record in school history. It was also MCC's sixth consecutive 20-win season and third straight Region I championship.

The year before, the T-Birds, featuring a very young lineup with four freshman starters, finished the season with a 27-6 record and No. 2 national ranking. After capturing their second straight Region I title they then won their first three games at the NJCAA finals before finally falling.

Stephenson is the face of MCC Women’s basketball, having served the program as an assistant since 1999.  She just completed her 16th season as head coach of the T-Birds.

She has compiled a 345-172 record in her 16 years and her teams have won at least 20 games in 12 of the last 14 years. MCC has reached the Region I, Division II championship game ten consecutive times.

Originally from Forsyth, Montana, Kori graduated from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology in Rapid City, SD in 1998, earning a BA in Interdisciplinary Sciences.  As a member of the Hardrocker’s women’s basketball team, she played for longtime head coach Barb Felderman, earning 1st-team NAIA All-American honors, three NAIA national tournament appearances and is third in all-time scoring with 1,934 points.  Kori was the top assistant at Mesa beginning in 1999 during which the Lady Thunderbirds finished 7th in the nation in 2001-02 at Hagerstown, MD and 5th in 2004-05 in Phoenix. 

During her tenure at Mesa eight players have won All-American honors and 32 have been named all ACCAC or all-Region I.  With extensive recruiting efforts throughout the Valley she has established a range of upcoming talent. 

She lives in Mesa with her husband, Brian, and their two sons.

stephenson@mesacc.edu
480-461-7544