Bio

Kori Stephenson has been the driving force behind Mesa Community College Women’s Basketball since taking over as head coach in the 2006–07 season. Stephenson has transformed the program into one of the nation’s most consistent and successful at the NJCAA Division II level.

Most recently, Stephenson guided the 2023–24 Thunderbirds to a 28-7 record and a third place finish at the NJCAA Division II National Championships, with longtime assistants Willie Young and Ben Nelson by her side. The performance added to an already decorated resume that includes the program’s crowning achievement: a national championship in 2013–14.

That championship season saw Mesa defeat the tournament’s top two seeds on back-to-back nights, capped by a thrilling 82-72 overtime win over Highland (Kan.) in the title game. The T-Birds finished 28-5, still the best single-season record in school history, and claimed their third straight Region I title while extending a streak of six consecutive 20-win seasons.

Since taking the reins in 2006, Stephenson has compiled a career record of 426-196. Her teams have won at least 20 games in 14 of the last 18 seasons and consistently competed for conference and regional championships. Under her leadership, Mesa has produced eleven NJCAA All-Americans, 48 All-ACCAC selections, and 39 All-Region I honorees.

Stephenson’s connection to the program began well before her head coaching days. She joined the MCC staff as an assistant in 1999, helping guide the Thunderbirds to a 7th-place national finish in 2001–02 in Hagerstown, Maryland, and a 5th-place finish in 2004–05 in Phoenix.

Originally from Forsyth, Montana, Stephenson played collegiately at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, where she earned NAIA First-Team All-American honors. She helped lead the Hardrockers to three national tournament appearances and finished her career with 1,934 points—third all-time in program history—under longtime head coach Barb Felderman. She graduated in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Sciences.

Through strong recruiting throughout the Valley and a commitment to player development, Stephenson has built a sustainable program that continues to compete at the highest level. She lives in Mesa with her husband, Brian, and their two sons.