Pauline Love Named Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Alabama
4/1/2026 1:06:00 PM | Women's Basketball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Pauline Love has been named head coach of The University of Alabama women's basketball program, UA Director of Athletics Greg Byrne announced. Love will be formally introduced at a press conference on Thursday, April 2.
Love, no stranger to Alabama and the Southeastern Conference, returns to Tuscaloosa after one season as the associate head coach at Oklahoma. She spent the 2024-25 season with the Crimson Tide as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator after serving in the same role at Arkansas from 2017-2024.
"We are thrilled to welcome Pauline back to Tuscaloosa," said Byrne. "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."
Known as one of the nation's top recruiters and developers of talent, Love has coached numerous all-conference selections, all-Americans and a trio of WNBA Draft picks.
"I'm incredibly honored to lead the Alabama women's basketball program," said Love. "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."
Love recently helped Oklahoma advance to the NCAA Sweet 16, winning 26 games during the 2025-26 season. The Sooners averaged a program-best 85.9 points per game, which also ranks in the top five nationally.
In addition to stops at Oklahoma, Alabama and Arkansas, Love spent time as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Southern Miss (2013-17) and McNeese (2012-13).
Love suited up for the Golden Eagles 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. She began her collegiate career at Jones College, where she spent one season prior to transferring to Southern Miss.
Love played professionally for a year with the Connecticut Sun and overseas in France before embarking on her coaching career. She is a member of the Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame, the Jones College Hall of Fame and the Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame.
While appropriate members of The Board of Trustees have been notified of the proposed terms and conditions of this proposed appointment, the financial terms remain subject to approval by The Board of Trustees.
