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re: Kristy Curry to USF
Posted on 4/1/26 at 7:11 am to Diego Ricardo
Posted on 4/1/26 at 7:11 am to Diego Ricardo
i dont claim any knowledge about the coaching situation. but it seems the administration is showing exactly where they stand on the ladies future.
2
Posted on 4/1/26 at 10:17 am to crimsontater
They asked Ace's dad at his introductory presser about her joining him at JSU. He said she's happy at Bama but waiting to see how much of an emphasis they put on the program with this new hire. So....
As it looks now, I'm afraid it doesn't look like they are putting a big emphasis on the program. (if these rumors are true)
I still believe in Byrne and think he will make a good hire in spite of these rumors.
As it looks now, I'm afraid it doesn't look like they are putting a big emphasis on the program. (if these rumors are true)
I still believe in Byrne and think he will make a good hire in spite of these rumors.
Posted on 4/1/26 at 10:24 am to ArabianKnight
Might be waiting on an assistant on a final four team.
Posted on 4/1/26 at 10:25 am to ArabianKnight
If there is only enough money to make football and men's basketball national championship contenders, you have to cut the budget elsewhere. We don't have a billionaire booster to turn Alabama athletics into his new toy.
Posted on 4/1/26 at 10:47 am to Robot Santa
quote:
If there is only enough money to make football and men's basketball national championship contenders, you have to cut the budget elsewhere. We don't have a billionaire booster to turn Alabama athletics into his new toy.
Maybe one day UNICEF will get into the women's athletic business. But until then, we're (men's athletics) the people to see
Posted on 4/1/26 at 11:29 am to cdur86
TNews Today
quote:
It's time.
It's past time, really. But overdue as it is, Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne has a chance to make the right move with the UA women's basketball program by hiring Madonna Thompson from Shelton State Community College. The former Alabama guard, who played on the program's only Final Four team, is so much more than the easy choice down the street.
She's the best choice.
There are reliable rumblings that Thompson is indeed a candidate for the job. Byrne mentioned in a statement about former coach Kristy Curry's departure that the search for her replacement would be national. He wouldn't be doing right by the program if he didn't explore every option, but in this case, a hyperlocal search is the way to go.
Her resume is, in a word, staggering.
The Lady Buccaneers just went 30-4 and reached the quarterfinals of the NJCAA Division I tournament. It's the 13th time they've won 30-plus games in Thompson's 28 seasons, and their 26th year in a row to win 20-plus. Her career record of 779-158 represents a winning percentage of .831. She's piled up 20 conference championships, been to NJCAA Final Fours, and probably has enough coach of the year awards to fill a mantle.
Perhaps more importantly, nobody outworks her, or her players.
Thompson is a culture builder. That's a core task for any new coach, but even more so in a program that doesn't have the resources of a revenue-driving sport like football or men's basketball.
Curry recently left the Crimson Tide for the University of South Florida. She was hired by former Alabama AD Bill Battle in 2013, and 13 years later, she left the program in much better shape than she found it. UA has qualified for four consecutive NCAA Tournaments, and five of the last six, so nobody could fault the late Battle for the decision.
That said, Thompson was qualified at the time, and she's beyond qualified now. There's nobody better suited to take the baton from Curry and push the program to still higher achievement.
Alabama should bring Madonna Thompson home.
Posted on 4/1/26 at 11:33 am to Alabama_Fan
Well they hired someone y'all gonna be upset with.
Posted on 4/1/26 at 11:58 am to Panthers4life
Let's welcome Pauline Love back to the University of Alabama. #RollTide
Posted on 4/1/26 at 1:21 pm to Panthers4life
Whybwoukd they be mad about someone who can get top talent. Uconn is well coached but they have great players.
Posted on 4/1/26 at 2:57 pm to Panthers4life
Not really. Definitely a roll of the dice, considering it's an assistant. But she apparently recruited Sarah Ashlee Barker and Aaliyah Nye, plus three McDonald's All-Americans at Arkansas. I'd rather take a chance on her.
Hopefully she can energize the program and get more fan support.
Hopefully she can energize the program and get more fan support.
This post was edited on 4/1/26 at 2:58 pm
Posted on 4/1/26 at 2:59 pm to Alabama_Fan
The question remains, if Thompson is so amazing, why hasn't she been hired by a Division I program anywhere? Doesn't that strike you as a bit odd?
I will admit I'm underwhelmed by this hire. It just seems like Byrne decided to go the bargain basement route with a hire no one has ever heard of. Again, as a previous poster showed, Bama is dead last in terms of spending for womens basketball, so I shouldn't be all that surprised.
I know we're never gonna spend like South Carolina. I get it but DEAD LAST in the SEC? Makes me think UA athletics is in terrible financial shape.
I will admit I'm underwhelmed by this hire. It just seems like Byrne decided to go the bargain basement route with a hire no one has ever heard of. Again, as a previous poster showed, Bama is dead last in terms of spending for womens basketball, so I shouldn't be all that surprised.
I know we're never gonna spend like South Carolina. I get it but DEAD LAST in the SEC? Makes me think UA athletics is in terrible financial shape.
Posted on 4/1/26 at 3:12 pm to Amarillo Tide
quote:
Makes me think UA athletics is in terrible financial shape.
Or we know to prioritize our resources. Be honest now, when is the last time you actually watched Women's basketball from tip to buzzer. Very few fanbases actually care. Not saying that is right, but I'd rather Moneyball this than spend money just to spend money like LSU is doing.
Posted on 4/1/26 at 6:36 pm to cdur86
People said it would happen and this is how it happens to women’s sports.
Eventually all but a handful of women’s sports programs will be even more about Title IX compliance than ever before. The bare minimum you can get away with to meet statutory requirements.
You simply cannot afford to direct funds away from your revenue generating sports.
Eventually all but a handful of women’s sports programs will be even more about Title IX compliance than ever before. The bare minimum you can get away with to meet statutory requirements.
You simply cannot afford to direct funds away from your revenue generating sports.
This post was edited on 4/2/26 at 6:50 am
Posted on 4/3/26 at 9:09 am to Amarillo Tide
A successful junior college coach I knew got an offer to coach Troy State, before Troy went D1. He seriously thought about it and turned it down. He said it was extraordinarily tempting from a professional and competitive standpoint but that he’d already put down roots where he was at, his wife was happy in her job and his kids were happy in their schools where he was at, he was enjoying both coaching and teaching a full load and that it had finally registered with him that he simply didn’t have the fire in his belly to keep trying to climb the coaching ladder. I respected that, some of you might not. And I wonder if Madonna is in that boat.
Posted on 4/3/26 at 9:31 am to crimsontater
I think Byrne wasn't happy with Curry and Curry wasn't happy with the support she was getting from Byrne! You have to spend money to make money most of the time! Bama has a limited supply of money and most of it goes to the football and basketball program.
I think you will see Bama fall further behind because of the available money some of these other schools such as Texas has versus Bama. We don't have any billionaires sending money to us.
I think you will see Bama fall further behind because of the available money some of these other schools such as Texas has versus Bama. We don't have any billionaires sending money to us.
Posted on 4/3/26 at 10:11 am to JMAC1962
quote:Who actually makes money on women's basketball?
ou have to spend money to make money most of the time!
Posted on 4/3/26 at 10:53 am to TideCPA
Nobody. It’s basically a loss leader to spotlight the overall athletic program and attract a different set of eyes.
Posted on 4/3/26 at 8:03 pm to InkStainedWretch
Chanda Rigby, whether you like her or not, went from Pensacola Junior College to Troy and has done a good job. Thompson would have done a good job at Bama. She knows what she is doing, regardless of level. Oats went from high school to Buffalo. If you can coach, you can coach. I think Byrne missed it this time. We will see though.
Posted on 4/3/26 at 8:12 pm to 11and18gggchamp
I don’t know if you misunderstand me but I was 100% in favor of giving Madonna a chance. I responded to someone questioning why no Division I team has hired her away from Shelton State yet, speculating that maybe she’s gotten some offers … I cannot envision her not having received some calls from schools … but she’s rebuffed them and Shelton State is as high as she wants to go, especially with her nearing her mid-50s. She’s been there for a quarter century, they’ll probably name a building on campus for her when she retires.
Posted on 4/3/26 at 8:29 pm to InkStainedWretch
Oh I know. I was just giving my 2 cents to those who don't think she could do the job.
She has gotten looks from D1 schools, but for whatever the reason, they didn't pull the trigger. She is open to moving up. This was the 2nd time Bama interviewed her. Not sure if it was a token or not, but she got one.
I think Byrne is just an elitist who worried about the optics. Thompson has accomplished a ton in 25 years. He hired someone who has never called a TO before.
She has gotten looks from D1 schools, but for whatever the reason, they didn't pull the trigger. She is open to moving up. This was the 2nd time Bama interviewed her. Not sure if it was a token or not, but she got one.
I think Byrne is just an elitist who worried about the optics. Thompson has accomplished a ton in 25 years. He hired someone who has never called a TO before.
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