Sport(s) | Basketball |
---|---|
Current position | |
Title | Head coach |
Team | Alabama |
Record | 58-60 (.492) |
Biographical details | |
Born |
Olla, Louisiana |
October 29, 1966
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
1988–1990 | Weston HS |
1990–1991 | Mansfield HS |
1991–1992 | Tulane (asst.) |
1994–1996 | Texas A&M (asst.) |
1996–1999 | Louisiana Tech (asst.) |
1999–2006 | Purdue |
2006–2013 | Texas Tech |
2013–present | Alabama |
Head coaching record | |
Overall | 368-210 (.637) |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Awards | |
Kay Yow Heart of a Coach Award |
Kristy Lynn Curry née Sims (born October 30, 1966) is the head coach of the University of Alabama's women's basketball team, the Crimson Tide. She took the job in 2013.
Curry graduated from Northeast Louisiana University in 1988. Her career started with coaching jobs at Weston and Mansfield High Schools in her home state of Louisiana. She held several college assistant coaching jobs, including Tulane, Texas A&M, and Louisiana Tech. Immediately prior to taking her position with the Lady Raiders on March 30, 2006, she was the head coach of Purdue's women's basketball team. In addition to two Big Ten championships, she led the Boilermakers to seven consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament, including four appearances in the Sweet Sixteen, two appearances in the Elite Eight, one appearance in the Final Four, and one appearance in the national championship game (2001).
As head coach of the Texas Tech Lady Raiders, following the retirement of Hall of Fame coach Marsha Sharp, Curry embarked upon a rebuilding program as her tenure began in 2006, facing the challenges of new-era recruiting and the increased talent prevalent in the Big Twelve Conference, especially Big Twelve South opponents Baylor, Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas A&M, all of whom were frequently ranked in the Top 25 and contending for the national championship. In her first six years at Texas Tech, Curry led the Lady Raiders to three appearances in the Women's National Invitational Tournament.
In January 2011, the Lady Raiders ascended to #26 in the AP national rankings (#25 in the Coaches' Poll), and on February 19, 2011 in the United Spirit Arena, the Lady Raiders upset the #1-ranked Baylor Bears. In the regular-season finale on March 5, 2011 Texas Tech defeated the #18 Oklahoma Sooners for the Lady Raiders' third victory over a ranked opponent in seventeen days. Texas Tech accepted an invitation to the NCAA Tournament.
In March 2011, Curry signed a five-year contract extension with Texas Tech. Under Curry's leadership, the Lady Raiders began the 2011-12 season with 14 straight victories and were ranked #10 in the AP poll in early January 2012.