Karen Aston is a 1987 graduate of Little Rock, where she earned her bachelor's degree in physical education. A native of Benton, she played two seasons of standout basketball for the Trojans after transferring from Ouachita Baptist, leading the team in scoring and field goals made in 1985-86.
 
Following graduation, Aston entered the coaching ranks where her experience ranges from high school to the collegiate ranks. She was named the Arkansas Basketball Coach of the Year after leading Vilonia to a 36-1 record and the Class 2A state title in 1992-93. Her stops at the collegiate level include Charlotte, North Texas and Texas as Aston is currently the head coach of UTSA.
 
Aston has been consistently recognized as one of the top coaches in the nation. She was one of four finalists for the Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year award in 2017 and was one of 10 semifinalists for the honor in 2018. Aston also earned Big 12 Coach of the Year accolades in 2017.
 
As a coach, she has a career record of 285-146 [.661]. In her 13 seasons as a head coach, Aston’s teams have averaged 22 wins per year and have made a combined 10 postseason appearances. She was inducted into the Little Rock Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.
 
While she wore a Trojans uniform, Aston shot .409 (158-for-386) over her career as she averaged 10.3 points and 1.6 rebounds per game, scoring 372points, grabbing 58 rebounds with 24 assists and five steals overall in her 36 games played.
 
The 2016-17 Big 12 Coach of the Year, Aston has led her teams to six NCAA Tournament appearances. including three Sweet 16 finishes and an Elite Eight appearance in 2016. Aston was named a finalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year award in 2016-17 and has led Texas to 22 or more victories in each of the past five seasons, finishing second in the Big 12 for the last three years.