Carey was officially named the program's head coach in March 2023, entering his fifth season at IUP in 202-2.
Carey guided the IUP women's basketball program to one of the most successful seasons in program history in 2025-26, leading the Crimson Hawks to the NCAA Division II National Championship Game after capturing both the PSAC Championship and the Atlantic Region Championship.
In just his fourth season at IUP, Carey reached 93 career victories while leading the Crimson Hawks to a 31-win campaign. The team was powered by three All-PSAC selections, including PSAC West Player of the Year Shae Weaver, who helped anchor one of the nation's top programs throughout the season.
Under Carey's leadership, IUP continued to build a championship-caliber roster by developing talent and integrating impactful transfers into the Crimson Hawks family. The 2025-26 squad was led by Weaver, Ellie Wilkerson, Marin Miller and transfer sharpshooter Teresa Maggio, who made an immediate impact and helped propel IUP to the national stage.
Carey's ability to establish a winning culture, develop student-athletes and create a strong team identity has positioned the Crimson Hawks as one of the premier programs in Division II women's basketball.
Carey guided IUP Women’s Basketball to a strong 23-8 overall record and a 15-5 mark in PSAC play during the 2024-25 season, which led the Hawks back to both PSAC and NCAA Tournaments. IUP opened the season with five consecutive wins and remained one of the top defensive teams in the league, posting a .742 overall winning percentage and going 12-3 on its home floor at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex. The Crimson Hawks advanced to the PSAC Quarterfinals and then made a deep NCAA Atlantic Region run, picking up statement victories over nationally ranked Fairmont State and top seeded Edinboro before falling to Gannon in the regional final. Carey’s squad featured balanced scoring again with multiple players averaging double figures, helping IUP reestablish itself among the region’s elite programs.
Carey, a previous assistant coach at Division I West Virginia, was named the interim head coach at IUP in September 2022. Carey replaced Tom McConnell, the winningest coach in program history, who retired in July 2022 after nine seasons and 197 wins. Carey is the son of Mike Carey, the longtime head women’s basketball coach at WVU.
He held the interim head coach tag at IUP for one season in 2022-23.
A native of Clarksburg, W.Va., Carey was an assistant for his father from 2015 until Mike Carey retired following the 2021-22 season. Before his stint as an assistant coach, Carey worked on the team’s support staff, responsible for several things, including video coordinator and camp counselor.
A 2012 graduate of West Virginia, Carey played on the men’s basketball team for one season and held several positions as a student worker and practice player for the Mountaineers. As a student worker, Carey assisted with office duties, provided information per NCAA and Big 12 regulations for recruitment and assisted with recruiting visits. He played for coach Bob Huggins as a member of the WVU men’s basketball program during the 2010-11 season.
Carey is a two-time graduate of West Virginia. He earned a bachelor’s degree in criminology in 2012 and a master’s in sport management in 2015.
Mike Carey retired in 2022 after 21 seasons of leading the WVU women’s basketball program. He won 462 games and took the Mountaineers to the NCAA Women’s Tournament 11 times. His teams won 20 or more games 14 times.
What they’re saying about Craig Carey:
“This was a home run hire by IUP! Craig is a tireless worker who cares deeply about his student-athletes. He is a teacher of the game, a tireless worker, and a recruiter who positively impacts his student-athletes both on and off the basketball court. I can't wait to watch the future success of IUP’s women’s basketball program with Craig leading the charge. The sky is the limit for the program.”
Bett Shelby,
Assistant women’s basketball coach, University of Arizona
|
Craig Carey | Head Coaching Record
|
|
Year
|
School
|
W
|
L
|
Win %
|
Notes
|
|
2022-23
|
IUP
|
18
|
10
|
.643
|
|
|
2023-24
|
IUP
|
21
|
8
|
.724
|
PSAC Tournament, NCAA Appearance
|
|
2024-25
|
IUP
|
23
|
8
|
.742
|
PSAC Tournament, NCAA Appearance
|
| 2025-26 |
IUP |
31 |
4 |
.885 |
PSAC Champions, Atlantic Region Champions, NCAA Runner-Up |
|
CAREER
|
|
93
|
30
|
.756
|
|
