The women’s college basketball coaching carousel already has started spinning, with Power Four programs wasting little time making moves.
Which dismissals have disappointed you? Did someone not get a fair shake? Which ones were deserved? Who else do you think will be, or should be, shown the door? (Yes, all eyes are wandering towards the rockiness on Rocky Top.)
Which new hires have you excited? Which ones are head-scratching? How do you feel about athletic departments promising to provide new hires with the resources that weren’t given to the now-fired coaches? And who would you like to see get a big-time opportunity?
Here’s a look at decisions that could shake up the women’s college basketball landscape in seasons to come. Share your takes, plus the murmurings in the rumor mill that have intrigued you, in the comments below.
The Gators are going with Tammi Reiss
On Monday, Florida began their hoped-for return to national relevancy by hiring Tammi Reiss as the 12th head coach in program history.
Reiss arrives in Gainesville to take over a Gator program coming off two-straight 5-11 finishes in the SEC under former head coach Kelly Rae Finley, as talented recruiting classes did not translate into wins, in part due to institutional underinvestment.
The university is indicating a recommitment to women’s basketball with the Reiss hire. Reiss not only brings program-building success—her seven seasons at Rhode Island culminated in the program’s first Atlantic 10 title and first NCAA Tournament berth since 1996 this season—but also a dynamic personality.
The backcourt partner of Dawn Staley at Virginia in the early 1990s, Reiss played two seasons in the WNBA before serving as an assistant coach at multiple stops in the W and at the collegiate level.
Staley offered her seal of approval, saying:
This is a full-circle moment for both of us. From sharing the court as roommates and teammates and now coaching in the same league, it’s special. And I know she’s going to make a strong impact at Florida.
Reiss expressed appreciation for the opportunity, as well as confidence in the university’s investment in her success:
I need a certain investment in women’s basketball, and they did that. I’ve had other opportunities, but again, I’ve been very particular about the program that checks all the boxes and is a builder program.
I don’t like inheriting. I want something to build. All I needed was someone to meet halfway. Florida came to the table, and they are ready. They want a good women’s basketball program, and they are ready to resource it accordingly.
Redus gets 1st head coaching shot at Rutgers
Gary Redus II, a fixture on head coach Kim Mulkey’s staff at LSU since the Tigers’ 2022-23 national championship-winning season, will be the new head coach at Rutgers. It is his first head coaching job.
During his time at LSU, Redus became renowned as a recruiter, helping the Tigers bring in top-ranked recruiting classes.
Redus replaces Coquese Washington, who was fired after four seasons and a 42-84 record. The Scarlet Knights’ 1-17 Big Ten record this season was the worst mark in program history; Rutgers went 9-20 overall in 2025-26.
After five seasons, Finely is out at Florida
After missing the NCAA Tournament for the fourth-straight year and finishing 12th in the SEC (5-11), Florida has fired head coach Kelly Rae Finley. Finley departs Gainesville with a 93-75 record, with the Gators going 18-15 in 2025-26.
Despite attracting some of the most high-profile recruits in school history to Gainesville, Finley failed to translate that talent into increased success.
A recent report from The Gainesville Sun dug into the deficiencies with Florida’s women’s basketball program, exposing how a lack of investment from the university, combined with poor decisions and missed opportunities from the athletic department (including NOT offering the job to Becky Hammon in 2017), has prevented Florida competing with top-tier SEC programs. While initial reporting suggested that was unlikely to change, it subsequently appears that Florida is signaling a greater willingness to invest in the program.
Memphis dismisses Simmons after another losing season
Alex Simmons is done as the head coach at Memphis, fired after going 30-61 across three seasons. In 2025-26, the Tigers were 10-21, finishing 12th, last place, in the American Conference (4-14).
Penn State parts ways with Kieger
After seven years in charge and only one winning season, Carolyn Kieger has been fired by Penn State.
The Lions finished 16th in the Big Ten (4-14) this season, a standing that prevented them from making the conference tournament field. An overall record of 11-18 this season gave Kieger a 84-123 mark during her time in State College.
Pitt punts Verdi amid on-court and off-court problems
Less than a month after former Pitt players filed a lawsuit accusing head coach Tory Verdi of abusive coaching, in addition to alleging that their complaints went unaddressed, the university fired Verdi, who coached the Panthers for three seasons.
Verdi’s off-court troubles were accompanied by ones on the court, as Pitt was 29-66 during his tenure. That included a 8-23 in 2025-26, with the Panthers winning just one ACC game (1-17).
BC boots Bernabei-McNamee after awful season
Joanna Bernabei-McNamee is out as head coach at Boston College after eight seasons, with the university choosing not to renew her contract.
The Eagles finished 2025-26 at 5-25, including 1-17 in the ACC. Bernabei-McNamee’s overall record at BC was 113-131.
