Alabama Women’s Basketball Adds Pauline Love to Coaching Staff
4/19/2024 2:50:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Love joins the Crimson Tide after spending the last seven seasons as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Arkansas
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Pauline Love, a highly-respected coach who is considered one of the top recruiters in the nation, has been officially hired as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, head coach Kristy Curry announced Friday.
"We are so excited to welcome Pauline to our Alabama family," said Curry. "She is one of the best recruiters in the country! With her background and having played at three levels along with her experience as a coach, she will bring in valuable knowledge and will share her experiences with our student-athletes to really connect to them. Pauline is going to bring energy and excitement to our program in all areas and our staff is so excited to have her at the Capstone."
Most recently Love served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Arkansas Razorbacks under head coach Mike Neighbors for seven years (2017-2024).
"Coming to Alabama makes me feel like I'm coming home! Kristy has known me since I was a player at Southern Miss, and we've always kept in touch. She is one of the hardest workers in the business and I can't wait to get there and get started. ROLL TIDE!"
We're excited to add Pauline Love to our Alabama family! ????
— Alabama Women's Basketball (@AlabamaWBB) April 19, 2024
?? https://t.co/yRylGI5PqI#RollTide #GLG | @Plove55 pic.twitter.com/0hDINfKIK4
Originally, Love was joined the Razorbacks' staff as an assistant coach, but because of her ability to connect with players and to do so successfully, she moved to the role of the recruiting coordinator where she thrived, helping Arkansas reel in some of the best in-state recruits during her three-year tenure at the position. Over that span, Love recruited and helped sign McDonald's All-American five-star recruits Maryam Dauda, Jersey Wolfenbarger and Taliah Scott, as well as in-state prodigy, four-star prospect Jenna Lawrence.
On the court, Love played a role in post-player development for Arkansas, helping the program achieve postseason eligibility for five straight years prior to the 2023-24 season.
Before returning to her home state, Love made coaching stops at McNeese State (2012-13) and her alma mater, Southern Miss (2013-17). Her duties with the Golden Eagles during her four seasons there included all aspects of recruiting, on-the-floor coaching, scouting opponents, film breakdown and assisting in basketball camps. While working at McNeese State, Love handled on-campus and off-campus recruiting, social media and marketing, coordination of camps and clinics, scouting, skill development and working with both the guards and post players.
Following her collegiate career, Love played for the WNBA's Connecticut Sun in 2010 followed by a stint in the French Professional League for a season.
Love rewrote the record books as a player and reached program firsts at both Jones County Junior College and Southern Miss during her collegiate career. Love became the first JCJC player in nearly a decade to be named NJCAA All-American, while she finished top-10 in program history in nine different categories for USM, including sixth in scoring (1,576).
Her career with the Golden Eagles is legendary, as Love was a double-double machine, finishing her career averaging 16.1 points per game and 11.1 rebounds per game. The three-time All-Conference USA First Team performer was dominant during her senior season, averaging 18.3 points per game and 12.8 rebounds per game, which led her to being ranked second in the nation in both rebounds per game and double-doubles (21), while also ranking 33rd in scoring.
Pauline Love's Bio
- Three-time hall of famer (Southern Miss, Jones County Junior College and Mississippi Community College)
- Worked with Mike Neighbors at Arkansas and helped develop the Razorbacks' program over seven seasons (2017-24)
- Helped the program achieve postseason eligibility for five consecutive years
- Recruited and signed five-star recruits and McDonald's All-American recipients Maryam Dauda, Jersey Wolfenbarger and Taliah Scott
- Made coaching stops at McNeese State (2012-13) and Southern Miss (2013-2017)
- Joined the WNBA's Connecticut Sun in 2010
- Played a season internationally in the in French Professional League
- Played at Jones County Junior College and Southern Miss
- Named NJCAA All-American
- Three-time All-Conference USA First Team
- Finished top-10 in USM program history in the following categories, including second in rebounding average (11.1), third in rebounding (1,051), fourth in scoring average (16.6), fifth in field goals made (648) and field goals attempted (1,436), sixth in scoring (1,576), seventh in 3-point goals made (94) and attempted (307) and 10th in minutes played (3,188)
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