IU Indy Athletics

Kate Bruce was named the tenth head coach in the history of the women's basketball program in May 2022. After two seasons at IU Indy, Bruce was named Indianapolis Business Journal Forty Under Forty for her success on the court and her presence in the Indianapolis community. 

Bruce comes to IU Indy from Walsh University where she was the program's all-time winningest head coach and guided the Cavaliers to four consecutive NCAA Tournament berths.

Before coming to IU Indy, Bruce compiled a 134-43 (.757) record over her six-year tenure as the head coach at Walsh University, including a 28-5 mark and the program's first-ever Sweet 16 appearance during the 2021-22 season. Her .757 winning percentage ranks among the nation's best over the past six years while she's also guided Walsh to an impressive 100-25 mark (.800) in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC).
 
Bruce led DII Walsh to back-to-back G-MAC regular season and tournament titles in 2019 and 2020 and was named the 2020 G-MAC Coach of the Year. Her 2020 squad had the first undefeated mark in G-MAC history at 18-0 and set a program record for most consecutive victories (26). The team ranked No. 5 in the country in scoring offense (85.6 ppg) and finished the year with a 28-2 record. She won 20 games or more in four of her six seasons and had a winning record in all six seasons.

Bruce recruited and coached the top two leading scorers in Walsh history in Sha Carter and Mayci Sales and, in total, recruited and coached one Regional Player of the Year, two All-Americans, two G-MAC Players of the Year, one G-MAC Freshman of the Year and 12 all-conference performers.

Bruce has been successful at every stop, excelling as a player, assistant coach and head coach. She starred at Florida Gulf Coast University for legendary head coach Karl Smesko, earning Division II All-America honors while helping the Eagles to the 2007 NCAA Division II National Runner-up finish. Despite playing just two seasons at FGCU, she finished as the program's all-time leader in points, field goals made, free throws made and free throw percentage. She played one season professionally for the Perrik Jumpers in Holland before returning to FGCU as graduate assistant coach in 2008.

In 2009, she was promoted to an assistant spot and helped FGCU to a 50-12 overall mark and 34-6 record in the Atlantic Sun Conference while earning back-to-back WNIT berths in 2009 and 2010. She later had assistant coaching stints at Youngstown State (2010-13) and Ohio University (2013-16) before taking over the Walsh program in 2016. At YSU, the Penguins won 23 games and advanced to the 2013 WNIT in Bruce's final season with the program.

At Ohio, the Bobcats went 62-33 in her three seasons and won back-to-back Mid-American Conference (MAC) titles in 2015 and 2016. OU won a school record 27 games in 2015 and earned an NCAA Tournament berth.

Kate and her husband Jesse are the proud parents of three children – Brenna, Laney and Evan.