ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Katie Rokus has joined the Navy women's basketball program as an assistant coach, head coach Stefanie Pemper announced Thursday.

"We are fortunate to have Katie with our program," said Pemper, "and I expect she'll make an immediate contribution to both our team and staff. Katie will be great for our players' maturity, not only in terms of skill development but also mental toughness. Growing up in the Washington, D.C. area, she understands how special the Naval Academy is and has real respect for the young people who choose Navy. She's eager to get started."

"I am honored to join the Navy women's basketball program as I have always respected the strong athletic, academic and cultural traditions of the U.S. Naval Academy," said Rokus. "I look forward to building on previous successes and working with such a talented group of women and staff."

Rokus arrives on The Yard after having spent the last five seasons as an assistant coach at Cincinnati. Included in her stint at the school was a 2012 appearance in the WNIT by the Bearcats, which marked program's first trip to the postseason in six years. She previously made a trip to the WNIT as a coach in 2009 during the first of her three seasons as an assistant at George Washington.

Rokus began her coaching career during the 2003-04 season as an assistant at UMBC. Her third season at the school (2005-06) saw the Retrievers post their first winning campaign in 12 years, with UMBC going on to win the program's first America East title and earn its first berth into the NCAA Tournament the very next year. Rokus would serve as the recruiting coordinator and lead assistant coach in each of her final three seasons at UMBC before she departed for George Washington after the 2007-08 season.

Rokus herself excelled in both the classroom and on the basketball court while attending St. John's College High School and USC Aiken. The Salutatorian of her high school's Class of 1999, she helped lead the St. John's basketball team to a four-year record of 107-21 -- she also played soccer at the school -- as well as a No. 16 national ranking during her senior season. Rokus graduated from college in 2003 with magna cum laude distinction and was named the Most Outstanding Senior Student in her class. Those laurels were in addition to her twice serving as the captain of the school's basketball team. After the Lady Pirates won a Peach Belt Conference divisional title in 2001, the 2002 season saw them repeat as divisional champions, win the conference's regular season title and make the program's first NCAA (DII) Tournament appearance.