Alabama Women’s Basketball Coach Poached by Mid-Major Program Alabama women’s basketball is set to seek a new head coach after Kristy Curry, who led the team since 2013, announced her decision to leave the program. Curry has accepted the head coaching position at South Florida, a mid-major program, following the departure of the Bulls’ previous coach, Jose Fernando, who joined the WNBA’s Dallas Wings. The University of South Florida has opted for an external hire, moving past its interim coach, Michele Woods-Baxter, to bring in Curry for the 2025-26 season. Curry’s tenure at Alabama saw the Crimson Tide compile a 24-11 record (7-9 in the SEC) during the 2024 season. The team earned a six-seed in the NCAA Tournament, defeating 11-seed Rhode Island in the first round. However, Alabama fell to three-seed Louisville in the Round of 32 by a single point. Despite her efforts, Curry was unable to advance beyond the first weekend of the tournament during her time at Alabama. She reached the second round in each of the past three seasons and qualified for the NCAA Tournament in five of the last six years. In a statement, Curry expressed her excitement about joining South Florida, praising the program’s foundation and the university’s commitment to competitive success. “A strong foundation is in place, and I look forward to building on it as we pursue conference championships and NCAA Tournament success,” she said. She also highlighted the alignment between her vision and the university’s goals, adding that she was eager to meet the Bulls’ fanbase and experience the Yuengling Center. Curry’s coaching career prior to Alabama included stints at Texas Tech and Purdue. At Texas Tech from 2006 to 2013, she led the team to two NCAA Tournament appearances before joining Alabama.#south_florida #university_of_south_florida #alabama_womens_basketball #kristy_curry #yuengling_center
