Georgia Tech hires former Maryland assistant Karen Blair to replace retired Nell Fortner
COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 4: Associate head coach Karen Blair coaches the Maryland Terrapins in an Exhibition Game at Xfinity Center November 04, 2021 in College Park, MD. The Maryland Terrapins beat the Georgian Court University Lions 125-33. (Pho
ATLANTA - Georgia Tech has hired former Maryland assistant Karen Blair as coach, replacing Nell Fortner, who announced her retirement this past week.
What we know:
Blair worked on the Maryland staff for seven seasons, including the last five as associate head coach. The Terrapins won three Big Ten championships in the seven seasons.
What they're saying:
"I’m so grateful and excited to be the women’s basketball head coach at Georgia Tech," Blair said in a statement released Sunday by Georgia Tech. "Tech is a special place, on and off the court. The Institute has a long tradition of women’s basketball success, with a great foundation in place, thanks to the leadership of Coach Nell Fortner. I want to continue to build on that momentum and success to take the program to even greater heights."
CHESTNUT HILL, MA - FEBRUARY 09: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets head coach Nell Fortner coaches in a timeout during a women's college basketball game between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and the Boston College Eagles on February 9, 2025, at Conte For
Georgia Tech athletic director J Batt said in a statement he was impressed by Maryland’s success during Blair’s time on the staff.
"We set out to find a coach that has an established record of success at the highest level — both on the court and on the recruiting trail — and Coach Blair certainly fits that bill," Batt said.
By the numbers:
Maryland won at least one game in five of six NCAA Tournament appearances in the last seven years. The Terps advanced to the Sweet 16 in 2021, 2022 and 2025 and earned a spot in the Elite Eight in 2023.
Maryland finished with a No. 4 national ranking in 2020, when the NCAA Tournament was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Before her seven seasons at Maryland, Blair served as an assistant at North Texas, Texas-Arlington, Colgate and SMU, her alma mater. While working on the SMU staff from 1999-2009, the Mustangs won two Conference USA regular-season championships and played in two NCAA Tournaments.
What's next for coach Nell Fortner?
What they're saying:
When Fortner announced her retirement last week, she said her only plan was to relax.
"Look, it felt so good waking up this morning, and I was just like, you know, I didn't have a phone call to make," she said during the press conference at Georgia Tech. "You really have to just kind of decompress a little bit. I mean, this is a – it is a strong, fast, 365-day sprint with every day something's going on, every day something's happening, and it's so busy. So, I'm just going to kind of decompress and enjoy my time. But again, always be ready to help in any way I can, and then just see what comes my way. And if something comes my way, I'll contemplate it and see. But, I'm not out looking."
The Source: Associated Press writer Charles Odum wrote most of this article. Retired Georgia Tech Women's Basketball Head Coach Nell Fortner's remarks were made during a press conference announcing her retirement (see linked).