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Following the shocking firing of the firing of Olivia Gaines, Allen University has already identified the next head coach of the women’s basketball team. Per a report by Olivia Antilla for HBCU Gameday, the program is closing in on hiring current Florida Memorial head coach Kevin Herod.
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“Kevin Herod is expected to leave Florida Memorial University (NAIA) and take the head coaching job at Allen University,” Antilla reported. “This move signals a pivotal moment for a program aiming for sustained success at the NCAA Division II level.”
Kevin Herod has built one of the more consistent winning resumes in small college basketball, compiling a 245–105 career record over 12 seasons as a head coach. His teams have captured five conference championships, two tournament titles, and reached national postseason play six times, reflecting a sustained track record of success.
Most recently, Herod coached the Florida Memorial Lions women’s basketball, where he made an immediate impact. In the 2024–25 season, the Lions went 24–5 overall and 13–3 in conference play, claiming the The Sun Conference tournament championship and earning a national tournament berth. The run earned Herod SUN Conference Coach of the Year honors, while guard Kamesha Moore was named the conference’s Player of the Year. Florida Memorial followed with another competitive season in 2025–26, finishing 16–9 overall and remaining in contention in the conference race.
Herod’s success extends beyond his time in Miami Gardens. Prior to Florida Memorial, he led the Langston Lions women’s basketball to a 24–8 record and an NAIA National Tournament appearance in 2023–24, compiling a 41–21 mark over two seasons. Earlier in his career, he also became the all-time winningest coach in the history of Talladega Tornadoes women’s basketball.
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If hired, he would be stepping into a program that experienced steady regular-season success under Olivia Gaines. Gaines, who previously played at South Carolina Gamecocks women’s basketball under Dawn Staley, joined Allen Yellow Jackets women’s basketball ahead of the 2024–25 season after serving as an assistant at Georgia Southern Eagles women’s basketball. During her two seasons leading the program, Allen posted consecutive strong records, finishing 18–9 overall (13–6 in conference) in 2024–25 and 18–10 overall (16–8 in conference) the following year.
Despite those regular-season results, postseason success proved more elusive. Allen fell to LeMoyne-Owen Magicians women’s basketball 78–70 in the opening round of the 2025 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament. The next season, the Yellow Jackets opened the SIAC Tournament with a 95–41 win over Spring Hill Badgers women’s basketball before being eliminated by Miles Golden Bears women’s basketball 68–63.
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