Alabama women’s basketball coach Kristy Curry has taken the South Florida job, as announced by USF Tuesday, March 24.
Curry leaves the Crimson Tide after 13 seasons and with a 244-172 record. This season, Alabama went 23-10 and made a fifth NCAA Tournament appearance in the last six seasons.
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“I would like to thank (USF athletic director) Rob Higgins for the tremendous opportunity to lead a proud South Florida women’s basketball program,” Curry said in a press release from the school. “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.”
Curry led the Crimson Tide to its fifth straight 20-win season and Alabama has won 20 or more games seven times under Curry. Rick Moody is the only Alabama coach with more 20-win seasons, doing so in eight seasons from 1991-92 through 1998-99. Alabama went to the NCAA Tournament each of those seasons.
Curry came to Alabama ahead of the 2013-14 season as the program stalled out under Wendell Hudson and Stephany Smith. Alabama had won just four SEC games the previous two seasons.
Curry got a contract extension over the summer, taking her through 2030 and bumping her salary up to $700,000. It was a bump from her previous contract of $550,000 per season.
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Under Curry, Alabama rose in the SEC standings and finished in the top six the previous three seasons before dropping to 11th this season. The Crimson Tide also ended a 42-game losing streak to the Lady Vols and now have beaten them in eight of the last 16 meetings.
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Curry came to Alabama from Texas Tech, where she spent seven seasons. She got her head coaching start at Purdue, winning 179 games in seven seasons and making seven NCAA Tournaments. The high was a 31-7 record and title game appearance in her second year, 2000-01.
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Curry previously was an assistant at Louisiana Tech, Texas A&M, Stephen F. Austin and Tulane. She was a high school coach in Louisiana, in her home state.
Maxwell Donaldson covers high school sports, Jax State athletics, the outdoors in Alabama and more for the Gadsden Times and USA TODAY Network. Find him on Twitter/X @_Max_Donaldson and contact him at MDonaldson@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Kristy Curry leaves Alabama women’s basketball for South Florida job
