After 13 seasons, Kristy Curry has decided to move on from Alabama women's basketball just one day after the Crimson Tide were bounced in the 2nd Round of the NCAA Tournament by Louisville.
On Tuesday, On3's Talia Goodman reported that Curry would leaving Alabama to take the head coaching position at USF:
BREAKING: USF is hiring Alabama women's basketball head coach Kristy Curry, @TaliaGoodmanWBB reports. https://t.co/bEMFvKDL84 pic.twitter.com/YY6WwhPRqm
— On3 (@On3) March 24, 2026
Kristy Curry leaving Alabama women's basketball for USF
Curry ultimately deciding to leave Alabama isn't all that surprising. There were reports before the start of the NCAA Tournament that she was the target of the Northwestern coaching search. But for Curry to ultimately leave and take a downgrade to a non-power conference program to do it is surprising.
Despite not having nearly the amount of resources as some of the other programs in the SEC, Curry had done well in Tuscaloosa, breaking through to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for three straight years, but just missing out on leading the Crimson Tide to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1998.
Curry took over a program in a tough spot back in 2013, and it took her a while to gain traction. She had losing records in each of her first three seasons, and missed the NCAA Tournament in her first seven seasons. But the administration's patience with her paid off.
Curry led Alabama to five NCAA Tournament appearances in the last six years, including four in a row. Alabama won at least 20 games in each of the last five seasons, winning exactly 24 games in the last three years.
Curry finishes her Alabama coaching career with an overall record of 245-173.
Where Greg Byrne goes to find Alabama's next coach is anybody's guess at this point. The athletic department has not invested in the program at the level it needs to be a real contender in the SEC, but Curry was still able to consistently get them into March Madness, which will be appealing for several coaches looking for a chance of scenery.
So, too, will the presence of freshman star Ace Austin, who had a strong freshman campaign in Tuscaloosa and will be the focal point of the program moving forward, assuming she sticks around. Considering she's a Spring Garden, AL native, it seems likely she'll remain with the Crimson Tide despite Curry's departure.
Re-recruiting her will be priority No. 1 for whoever Byrne ultimately lands to replace Curry.