By The South Florida Bulls have hired Kristy Curry to be the head coach of the Bulls women’s basketball program
Curry most recently served as the women’s head basketball coach at Alabama for the last 13 seasons, during which she led the Crimson Tide to NCAA Tournament appearances in five of the last six seasons.
Curry also led Alabama to five 20-win seasons. This past season, Curry led the Crimson Tide to a 24-11 record and a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The Tide fell to the No. 2 seed Louisville Cardinals 69-68.
Curry brings quite an impressive resume with her to Tampa. She has led her teams to 16-20-win seasons and 21 postseason appearances in her 27 years as a head coach.
Curry also has 14 NCAA appearances and 7 WNIT appearances.
She has a very impressive won-loss record of 554-332 (.632), with 16-20-win seasons under her belt.
Curry had her first head coaching job at Purdue(1999-2006). That was followed by a seven-year tenure at Texas Tech (2006-2013) and, most recently, 13 seasons at Alabama (2013-2026).
Curry coached Purdue to the 2001 NCAA Final Four. She also has two appearances in the NCAA Elite Eight and four in the Sweet Sixteen on her resume.
Curry’s teams have also won three Big Ten Tournament titles and two regular-season Big Ten Championships.
Rob Higgins called Curry a proven winner in a statement welcoming her to Tampa and Bulls Nation.
I’m thrilled to welcome Kristy Curry to our Bulls family as the leader of our outstanding women’s basketball program,” Higgins said. “Kristy is a proven winner at the highest levels, with head coaching success across the Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC. 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. I’m incredibly excited about the future of South Florida women’s basketball under her leadership.”
Five of Curry’s players have been selected in the WNBA Draft. Most recently, Sarah Ashlee Barker was taken as the overall ninth selection in the 2025 WNBA Draft, while Aailiyah Nye was taken as the overall 13th selection.
This will be Curry’s fourth stop as a head coach. Curry issued a statement, excited to take South Florida to new heights in women’s basketball.
“I would like to thank Rob Higgins for the tremendous opportunity to lead a proud South Florida women’s basketball program,” Curry said. “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.”
