Kristy Curry Appointed USF Women’s Basketball Head Coach
University of South Florida (USF) has officially announced Kristy Curry as the new head coach of its women’s basketball program. This announcement came from the USF CEO of Athletics, Rob Higgins, on March 24, 2026. Curry, a veteran coach with significant experience, replaces Michele Woods-Baxter, who has served the program for nearly two decades.
Kristy Curry’s Coaching Legacy
Kristy Curry has an impressive coaching history spanning 27 seasons. Most recently, she led the University of Alabama’s women’s basketball team for 13 years, achieving notable success. Under her guidance, Alabama qualified for the NCAA Tournament five times in the last six seasons, culminating in a 24-11 record during the 2025-26 season. The team made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, narrowly losing to Louisville by a single point.
- Curry has led three different colleges to the NCAA Tournament.
- She has a remarkable record of 21 postseason appearances, including 14 NCAA and 7 WNIT appearances.
- Curry’s coaching record stands at 554 wins and 322 losses, a .632 win percentage.
Purdue Success
Before her tenure at Alabama, Curry had significant achievements at Purdue University. She took the Boilermakers to the NCAA championship game in 2001, alongside multiple NCAA Elite Eight and Sweet 16 appearances. Curry’s Purdue career included:
- 179 wins and 51 losses, with an impressive .778 win percentage.
- Three Big Ten Tournament titles and two regular season championships.
- An invitation to the NCAA tournament every year she coached at Purdue.
Recognition and Growth at Alabama
While at Alabama, Curry transformed the program, leading the Tide to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in over 20 years in 2021. She recorded:
- Five players selected in the WNBA Draft, including first-round picks Sarah Ashlee Barker and Aaliyah Nye in 2025.
- Eight All-SEC postseason honors for her players.
- A 130-98 record during her seven seasons at Texas Tech.
A Vision for USF Women’s Basketball
Curry expressed enthusiasm about her new role, stating, “I look forward to building on the strong foundation in place at South Florida.” She emphasized a commitment to pursuing conference championships and achieving success in the NCAA Tournament.
USF women’s basketball has made eight NCAA Tournament appearances and secured four conference titles since 2015. The athletics program, part of the American Athletic Conference, emphasizes both competitive excellence and academic success, with a notable record of 22 consecutive semesters achieving a combined GPA of 3.0 or higher.
As USF prepares for the future under Curry’s leadership, both fans and players eagerly anticipate the upcoming season. Her experience and track record of success bode well for the Bulls as they look to build on past accomplishments.
For more information on USF women’s basketball and tickets, visit El-Balad.
