Girls basketball: Coach Korst excited to take reins at Marin Catholic

Coach KK is on the hardwood in Marin County, ready to begin a new chapter in her legacy.

“Probably the only person I’ve spent more hours in the gym with (than Kayden Korst) is Brooke Smith,” former San Domenico girls basketball head coach Mike Fulton said in January ahead of his retirement. “I’m hoping (Korst) comes back and coaches here someday.”

Korst, a legendary basketball player at San Domenico from 2016-19, won’t be leading her alma mater, but she will make her high school head coaching debut this season with the Marin Catholic Wildcats. And she can look ahead to a scheduled Jan. 7 matchup, when the Wildcats enter the gym at San Domenico, where her No. 11 jersey was retired in January.

“I was very interested in the job … I had to jump on it,” Korst said of the Marin Catholic post. “I couldn’t be more excited.”

Just a few months after San Domenico celebrated the careers of two of the most notable names in Marin County basketball — Korst and Fulton — she was tabbed to take over at Marin Catholic for girls basketball coach Ashley Saia.

“I have huge shoes to fill,” Korst said. “Ashley Saia left behind a culture and standard that are unique in basketball. Her teams were amazingly successful.”

Korst comes with the respect and appreciation of players around Marin County.

“Both KK (Korst) and Mike (Fulton) have had a big influence on me and others,” San Domenico grad Lily Reeser said in January. “They are both such great role models. KK has shown me what basketball is about and inspired me in so many ways.”

Marin Academy junior Sterling Colpitts said in January, “KK has been so influential for me, and for so many of us. Both she and coach Fulton have meant so much to the basketball community in the area.”

The Wildcats (21-11) claimed the MCAL title and North Coast Section Division III crown last season as the team prepared to say goodbye to Saia, their coach for the past seven years.

Korst, who has worked as associate girls director with North Bay Basketball Academy and as an assistant coach at Redwood High, is scheduled to coach her first game with the Wildcats when they open the 2024-25 season on Nov. 23 at Saint Mary’s of Albany, followed by the Wildcat Classic beginning on Dec. 5.

“I’m trying to pick everyone’s brain I can,” Korst said. “Mike Fulton, Diane Peterson, Ashley Saia, Tony Butler, and so many other coaches around Marin. Everyone has been supportive and they’ve been a joy to learn from. I feel like I’m transitioning so I’m not a student anymore. I’m going to be a teacher for these girls.”

The Wildcats lost key players Quinn McCarty, Alyssa Spagnuolo, Cecily Hadd and Madie Dayton to graduation, but are expected to return with an experienced group of players, including sophomore Brooke Spagnuolo and seniors Abby Mogan, Izzy McFadden, Jocelyn Gigounas, Sami Riley and Sienna Frazier.

“It’s just going to be fun. It’s a classroom and a learning time for everyone,” said Korst who spent the summer with some of her players during the club season. “We have eight returners and they are family to me. I want this to be successful for them. They embraced me like family. … I’ve been around some of the girls before, and meeting girls like Sami Riley and Abby Mogan, I’m really impressed. I can’t thank these girls enough for the response I’ve been getting. The respect is mutual. These are easy kids to coach and I’m appreciative to them for the work they put in.”

Korst will have some extra help with assistant coach Dan Lucia, who was Saia’s right-hand man during her tenure. Saia is also ready with an encouraging word.

“Ashley took over an established program at Marin Catholic and she found ways to keep winning. She is a genius,” Korst said. “I want to make Ashley proud.”