TAMPA, Fla. – The University of South Florida didn’t just find a new coach today; they found a veteran winner with a resume that spans decades and major conferences. South Florida Athletics CEO Rob Higgins officially named Kristy Curry as the sixth head coach of the Bulls women’s basketball program on Tuesday, ending a search for a leader to guide the team into its next era.
Curry arrives in Tampa following a 13-season stint at Alabama, bringing with her a reputation for revitalizing programs and a career record of 554-322.
The move marks a significant shift for the Bulls, who have been a consistent postseason presence with eight NCAA Tournament appearances since 2015. Higgins made it clear that Curry was the top choice to maintain and build upon that momentum.
“Kristy is a proven winner at the highest levels, with head coaching success across the Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC,” Higgins said. “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.”
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Curry’s recent track record at Alabama suggests she isn’t slowing down. Her final season with the Crimson Tide saw the team go 24-11, earning a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament before a heartbreaking one-point loss to Louisville in the second round.
Under her watch, Alabama became a consistent 20-win program, reaching the NCAA Tournament in five of her last six seasons. She also proved her ability to develop professional talent, with five of her Alabama players selected in the WNBA Draft, including 2025 first-rounders Sarah Ashlee Barker and Aaliyah Nye.
This isn’t Curry’s first time moving to a high-stakes environment. Before Alabama, she spent seven seasons at Texas Tech and seven seasons at Purdue. Her tenure at Purdue remains a career highlight, where she led the Boilermakers to the 2001 NCAA championship game in just her second year as a head coach.
She reached the 100-win milestone faster than legendary figures like Pat Summitt and Geno Auriemma, a testament to how quickly she can establish a winning culture.
While welcoming Curry, Higgins also took a moment to acknowledge the departure of Michele Woods-Baxter, who served the university for nearly twenty years. “She has meant so much to this program and this community,” Higgins noted, thanking Woods-Baxter and her staff for their dedication through the 2025–26 season.
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For Curry, the move to the Yuengling Center represents a fresh start at a program that already has a “strong foundation.” A Louisiana native who started her career coaching high school ball, Curry is now one of only ten coaches in the history of the women’s game to record at least 100 wins at three different schools. “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.”
With 21 postseason appearances under her belt, Curry’s arrival signals that USF is doubling down on its quest for conference titles and deep March runs. The Bulls are getting a coach who has seen it all, from the Big Ten titles to the SEC grind, and now, the sights are set firmly on Tampa.
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