As a native of Franklin, TN, Karen graduated from Franklin High School in 2002. While at FHS, she was a multi-sport athlete, playing on the basketball and softball teams. Karen is married and shares three children with Franklin’s baseball coach, Wally Whidby. Karen began her college softball career at Northwest Shoals in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and finished her final two years at Martin Methodist College in Pulaski, Tennessee. While at Martin, she was awarded the 2005 District Player of the year, Regional Player of the year, and Second Team All-American. Karen was inducted into the Franklin High School Hall of Fame in 2014.

She began her coaching career in 2007 as the assistant softball coach at Martin Methodist College. She was the assistant softball coach at Summit High School before being named the head coach at Franklin in 2019. Karen currently serves as the 504 coordinator at FHS, pursuing her passion for helping students with disabilities.