USF names Alabama's Kristy Curry as women's head basketball coach
By Meleah Lyden, Rick Mayer
March 25, 2026 at 4:55 AM EDT
Curry's 27-year resume includes runs at Purdue, Texas Tech and Alabama. Her Crimson Tide teams posted 20-win seasons in each of the last five years and reached the second round of the NCAAs this month.
In need of a head coach to keep a successful women’s basketball program buzzing along, South Florida turned to someone with credentials on par with the architect.
With a heavy dose of SEC-level battle experience added in.
USF announced on Tuesday it hired Kristy Curry, whose 27-year resume includes lengthy successful runs at Purdue, Texas Tech and most recently Alabama.
ALSO READ: USF Bulls hire coaching veteran Chris Mack to lead men's basketball team
Curry's Alabama teams posted 20-win seasons in each of the last five years. The Crimson Tide went 24-11 this past season and made the NCAA tournament as the No. 6 seed, falling to No. 3 seed Louisville in the second round.
She takes over a team led by Jose Fernandez for 25 years before he jumped to the WNBA’s Dallas Wings last year. Fernandez directed the Bulls to four conference titles, 10 NCAA tournament appearances, 12 20-win seasons and 485 victories.
Michele Woods-Baxter, a Fernandez assistant, served as interim coach last season and led the Bulls to a 20-12 record.
What the Bulls get in their replacement is a veteran coach leading her fourth program after previous stops in power leagues: Big Ten, Big 12 and Southeastern Conference. She coached Purdue (1999-2006), Texas Tech (2006-13) and Alabama (2013-26) to the NCAA tournament and had Purdue in the 2001 national championship game.
ALSO READ: USF women's basketball head coach Jose Fernandez leaving for WNBA
"A strong foundation is in place, and I look forward to building on it as we pursue conference championships and NCAA tournament success," Curry said in a statement.
USF Athletics CEO Rob Higgins said Curry has been a proven winner at the highest levels.
"I'm incredibly excited about the future of South Florida women's basketball under her leadership," Higgins said in the statement.
No contract terms were announced, but according to media reports Curry signed a five-year contract.
Curry, 59, is one of 10 coaches in women's basketball history to record 100 wins or more at three different programs.
ALSO READ: USF women’s basketball makes quick adjustment to late coaching change
Five of her Alabama players were selected in the WNBA Draft. Sarah Ashlee Barker and Aaliyah Nye were first-round picks in 2025, and Zaay Green was a third-rounder. Also, Brittany Davis was selected in 2023 and Jasmine Walker in 2021. Walker was the first Alabama player drafted since 1999.
Curry is a Louisiana native and a 1988 graduate of Northeast Louisiana University. She started her career as a high school coach before working her way up in the collegiate ranks.
"Rob and the university's commitment to competing at the highest level — along with the clear vision and alignment at USF — are truly exceptional,” Curry said. “I can't wait to meet Bulls Nation and experience a rocking Yuengling Center."
https://twitter.com/RHiggins_USF/status/2036904028102078947
This hiring comes after the Bulls lost in the American Conference quarterfinal this month under Woods-Baxter, who was handed the interim tag days before the season opener after Fernandez accepted the WNBA position.
Higgins thanked Woods-Baxter for her nearly two decades of service to USF.
"She has meant so much to this program and this community, and I know I speak for all of Bulls Nation in expressing our deep gratitude," Higgins said. "Michele and her staff led with unwavering passion, integrity and class, and their commitment through the 2025-26 season will have a lasting impact on everyone connected to South Florida women's basketball."
ALSO READ: USF begins a national search for a women's basketball head coach
A national search for the role was announced immediately after the conference tournament.
USA Today, citing "people familiar with the search" reported that USF called Carly Thibault-DuDonis at Fairfield, talked with Arkansas State’s Destinee Rogers and Vermont’s Alisa Kresge, and targeted Rice's Lindsay Edmonds.
All are regarded as rising mid-major successes drawing increasing attention within women’s basketball circles. Edmonds just led the Owls to the American Conference season title and was named its Coach of the Year.
USA Today also reported that USF was offering a head coach salary "in the ballpark" of $800,000 annually, a pool of $700,000 for assistants and staff, and about $800,000 in revenue-sharing resources for players.
Bama247 reported Curry is leaving Tuscaloosa a year after signing a contract extension through 2030 that paid $700,000 annually. Citing Alabama's 2024-25 NCAA financial report, Bama247 reported that Curry made $805,555 including benefits and bonus, her three assistants combined to earn $724,886, and "athletic student aid" was $871,246.
With a heavy dose of SEC-level battle experience added in.
USF announced on Tuesday it hired Kristy Curry, whose 27-year resume includes lengthy successful runs at Purdue, Texas Tech and most recently Alabama.
ALSO READ: USF Bulls hire coaching veteran Chris Mack to lead men's basketball team
Curry's Alabama teams posted 20-win seasons in each of the last five years. The Crimson Tide went 24-11 this past season and made the NCAA tournament as the No. 6 seed, falling to No. 3 seed Louisville in the second round.
She takes over a team led by Jose Fernandez for 25 years before he jumped to the WNBA’s Dallas Wings last year. Fernandez directed the Bulls to four conference titles, 10 NCAA tournament appearances, 12 20-win seasons and 485 victories.
Michele Woods-Baxter, a Fernandez assistant, served as interim coach last season and led the Bulls to a 20-12 record.
What the Bulls get in their replacement is a veteran coach leading her fourth program after previous stops in power leagues: Big Ten, Big 12 and Southeastern Conference. She coached Purdue (1999-2006), Texas Tech (2006-13) and Alabama (2013-26) to the NCAA tournament and had Purdue in the 2001 national championship game.
ALSO READ: USF women's basketball head coach Jose Fernandez leaving for WNBA
"A strong foundation is in place, and I look forward to building on it as we pursue conference championships and NCAA tournament success," Curry said in a statement.
USF Athletics CEO Rob Higgins said Curry has been a proven winner at the highest levels.
"I'm incredibly excited about the future of South Florida women's basketball under her leadership," Higgins said in the statement.
No contract terms were announced, but according to media reports Curry signed a five-year contract.
Curry, 59, is one of 10 coaches in women's basketball history to record 100 wins or more at three different programs.
ALSO READ: USF women’s basketball makes quick adjustment to late coaching change
Five of her Alabama players were selected in the WNBA Draft. Sarah Ashlee Barker and Aaliyah Nye were first-round picks in 2025, and Zaay Green was a third-rounder. Also, Brittany Davis was selected in 2023 and Jasmine Walker in 2021. Walker was the first Alabama player drafted since 1999.
Curry is a Louisiana native and a 1988 graduate of Northeast Louisiana University. She started her career as a high school coach before working her way up in the collegiate ranks.
"Rob and the university's commitment to competing at the highest level — along with the clear vision and alignment at USF — are truly exceptional,” Curry said. “I can't wait to meet Bulls Nation and experience a rocking Yuengling Center."
https://twitter.com/RHiggins_USF/status/2036904028102078947
This hiring comes after the Bulls lost in the American Conference quarterfinal this month under Woods-Baxter, who was handed the interim tag days before the season opener after Fernandez accepted the WNBA position.
Higgins thanked Woods-Baxter for her nearly two decades of service to USF.
"She has meant so much to this program and this community, and I know I speak for all of Bulls Nation in expressing our deep gratitude," Higgins said. "Michele and her staff led with unwavering passion, integrity and class, and their commitment through the 2025-26 season will have a lasting impact on everyone connected to South Florida women's basketball."
ALSO READ: USF begins a national search for a women's basketball head coach
A national search for the role was announced immediately after the conference tournament.
USA Today, citing "people familiar with the search" reported that USF called Carly Thibault-DuDonis at Fairfield, talked with Arkansas State’s Destinee Rogers and Vermont’s Alisa Kresge, and targeted Rice's Lindsay Edmonds.
All are regarded as rising mid-major successes drawing increasing attention within women’s basketball circles. Edmonds just led the Owls to the American Conference season title and was named its Coach of the Year.
USA Today also reported that USF was offering a head coach salary "in the ballpark" of $800,000 annually, a pool of $700,000 for assistants and staff, and about $800,000 in revenue-sharing resources for players.
Bama247 reported Curry is leaving Tuscaloosa a year after signing a contract extension through 2030 that paid $700,000 annually. Citing Alabama's 2024-25 NCAA financial report, Bama247 reported that Curry made $805,555 including benefits and bonus, her three assistants combined to earn $724,886, and "athletic student aid" was $871,246.