Alabama hires former assistant Pauline Love as new head coach
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A familiar face is returning to Tuscaloosa to take over the women’s basketball program.
Former Alabama assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Pauline Love has officially been named as the next head coach with an introductory press conference scheduled for April 2.
Love spent the 2025-26 season with Oklahoma, serving as associate head coach for the Sooners, but she spent the 2024-25 season with the Crimson Tide.
“I’m incredibly honored to lead the Alabama women’s basketball program. This is a place with a championship standard, and we’re going to build a team that reflects that every day through toughness, togetherness and trust. I’m excited to get to work with our players, connect with this community and build something special in Tuscaloosa. I want to thank Greg Byrne, President Mohler and the Board of Trustees for this opportunity.”
Pauline Love
Keep reading to learn more about Love + what comes next for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama women’s basketball
This is Love’s first head coaching gig after spending the last 14 seasons as an assistant with stops at:
- McNeese State (2012-13)
- Southern Miss (2013-17)
- Arkansas (2017-24)
- Alabama (2024-25)
- Oklahoma (2025-26)
During her stops as an assistant, her teams finished with a winning record 12 times and made four NCAA Tournament appearances including one Sweet 16.
Love is considered one of the top recruiters in the country, landing four top 100 recruits in her lone season with the Crimson Tide.
“We are thrilled to welcome Pauline back to Tuscaloosa. Throughout this process, we spoke with several people, and she quickly rose to the top of that list. Pauline’s vision for this program and preparation to lead Alabama women’s basketball is incredibly impressive, and we look forward to seeing the Tide continue to rise under her leadership.”
Greg Byrne, Alabama AD
Prior to coaching, Love played for Southern Miss from 2007-10 earning three first-team All-Conference USA honors and is among the program’s all-time leaders in scoring, rebounding, field goals made and minutes.
Love played professionally for a year with the Connecticut Sun and overseas in France before starting her coaching career.
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