After 13 seasons in charge at Alabama, women’s basketball head coach Kristy Curry is leaving for the same job at South Florida.
Both schools announced the move Tuesday, with South Florida CEO of Athletics Rob Higgins calling Curry “a proven winner at the highest levels.”
“She has guided her teams to the NCAA championship game and built an exceptional resume that includes 16 20-win seasons and 21 postseason appearances over 27 years as a head coach,” Higgins said in a statement. “I’m incredibly excited about the future of South Florida women’s basketball under her leadership.”
Curry, 59, has spent her entire head-coaching career at high-major schools — Purdue (1999-2006), Texas Tech (2006-13) and Alabama — so the choice to move to the American Conference program is surprising.
However, Jose Fernandez built the Bulls into a frequent NCAA Tournament team in his 25-year career there before he took over the WNBA’s Dallas Wings in 2025. Michele Woods-Baxter served as the temporary head coach in 2025-26; the Bulls went 20-12 (13-5 American) but missed the tournament.
“I would like to thank Rob Higgins for the tremendous opportunity to lead a proud South Florida women’s basketball program,” Curry said in a statement. “A strong foundation is in place, and I look forward to building on it as we pursue conference championships and NCAA Tournament success. Rob and the University’s commitment to competing at the highest level–along with the clear vision and alignment at USF–are truly exceptional. I can’t wait to meet Bulls Nation and experience a rocking Yuengling Center.”
Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne thanked Curry for doing “a commendable job” in a statement Tuesday.
“We appreciated her contributions and wish her and her family well moving forward,” Byrne said. “As we begin a national search for our next head coach, Alabama athletics remains committed to the continued growth and investment in women’s basketball.”
The Crimson Tide qualified for each of the last four NCAA Tournaments and advanced to the second round in three straight years. As a sixth seed, the team’s season ended Monday with a narrow 69-68 loss to third-seeded Louisville in the Round of 32.
Alabama (24-11, 7-9 SEC) also received a ranking in the AP Top 25 poll for the second straight year, coming in as high as No. 21. Before Curry, the program had not done so since 1998-99.
Curry is 554-322 as a head coach all-time. She took Purdue to the Final Four in 2001 and beat Missouri State before falling 68-66 to Notre Dame in the title game.
–Field Level Media
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