Coker College Athletic Director Tim Griggs announced the hiring of Katherine Pate as the Head Coach of the Cobras Women’s Basketball Team in August of 2001. Pate, a 1997 graduate of Coker, replaced former head coach Ann Walters.
     Pate is passionate about being involved with the College that "gave her so much." It is with that passion for the institution and the sport of basketball that she has begun the restructuring process of the program in order to fit her philosophy.
     Pate's enthusiasm for improving the Lady Cobras has been evident in recent recognitions. The 2002-2003 season was a positive one as Coker was named by the NCAA as the #7 most improved Division II team in the country, going from 3-23 in 2001-2002 to 11-16 in just her second season. During the same year Pate boasted two CVAC All-Conference Selections, and a first round CVAC tournament home court seed, the first in six years.

     Continuing the re-building process the 2003-2004 season would capitalize on the improvement of the previous year.  With it her best recruiting class yet, the Cobras went on to tie the single season win record, completing the year with a Cinderella finish in the CVAC Tournament Championship game, and ending with a 19-11 overall record.  The hard work now beginning to pay off, Coker boasted two CVAC All-Tournament selections, a CVAC First Team All-Conference winner, and the college’s C.G. Timberlake Award Winner - the equivalent of athlete of the year, an honor not bestowed on a women’s basketball player in over a decade.
     Pate last coached at the University of South Carolina Spartanburg where she was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the women’s basketball program.  Her recruiting efforts helped solidify three USA Today Honorable Mention All-Americans in just fewer than three seasons – of which one was named Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year.  She also was responsible for overseeing all aspects of opponent research, monitoring academic progress, and the development and implementation of the team’s strength and conditioning program.
     Prior to her time in Spartanburg, Pate was an assistant coach at Coker College for the during the 1998-1999 season. While in her first tenure at the college Pate’s duties included recruiting, scouting opponents, and supervising out of season conditioning programs.
     During her Coker playing career, Pate was a three-time team captain and was a CVAC First Team All-Conference selection her senior year. She was also the team leading scorer and rebounder, and the Team MVP that year, while guiding the Cobras to its most successful record in school history finishing with a 19-7 overall mark and CVAC Tournament Runner-Up status.
     Pate believes that it’s only a matter of time before Coker can again challenge for the CVAC championship every year.