Women's Basketball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- rcurry@ia.ua.edu
- Phone:
- 205-348-7077
Kelly Curry is in his fourth season with the Crimson Tide women's basketball team, working primarily with the perimeters, while also handling scheduling, recruiting and scouting.
The 2016-17 campaign was the most successful to date in Curry's tenure as the Crimson Tide collected 22 wins, which is the most since the 1997-98 season. Alabama reached the quarterfinals of both the Southeastern Conference tournament and the Women's National Invitation Tournament, both firsts since 2005 and 2002, respectively.
Under his watch, freshman point guard Jordan Lewis was named SEC Newcomer of the Year by the Associated Press after earning a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team and SEC Freshman of the Week honors five times. She finished the season ranked fifth in the league in assists per game and 19th in minutes played, the highest of any freshman in those categories. Additionally, junior Hannah Cook ranked No. 1 in every three-point category in the SEC, including percentage, makes, makes per game and attempts.
Curry helped guide Alabama back to the postseason for the first time in five years to cap off the 2015-16 season. The Tide also snapped a 42-game losing streak to women's basketball powerhouse Tennessee, marking the first victory over the Lady Volunteers since 1984.
In 2014-15, Alabama collected double-digit wins in non-conference play for the first time since 2010 and had several finish in the final Southeastern Conference rankings, including Ashley Williams, who ranked No. 1 in field goal percentage for the entire season.
In his first season with the program, Alabama won seven SEC games marking the most since the 2001-02 season. Included in those victories was the first in Lexington against Kentucky since 2002, the first against Georgia since 2004, snapping a 23-game losing streak to the Lady Bulldogs, and the first in program history at Vanderbilt's Memorial Gym. Overall, the Tide won 14 games, playing one of the most difficult schedules in the nation.
That year, Williams became the first Alabama player in three seasons to be named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. The two-time SEC Freshman of the Week and member of the Cavalier Classic All-Tournament Team, Williams finished as the only freshman in the SEC to rank in the top 20 in scoring and top 15 in rebounding against league opponents coming in at No. 17 in scoring, averaging 13.8 points, and No. 14 in rebounding with 6.9 boards per contest.
Curry came to Tuscaloosa after serving in the same position at Texas Tech from 2006-13. Throughout his tenure, the Lady Raiders made five postseason appearances and had three 20-plus win seasons.
Prior to his seven-year stint in Lubbock, Curry spent seven seasons at Purdue, where he also coached the post players and was heavily involved in recruiting and scheduling. The Boilermakers advanced to the NCAA tournament in each of those years, making the national championship game in 2001. In addition, Purdue won three Big Ten Tournament Championships (2000, 03, 04) and two Big Ten regular season titles (2001, 02).
Curry began his coaching career at Louisiana Tech in 1998, where he spent one season on the sidelines under Hall of Famer Leon Barmore. That year, the Lady Techsters posted a 30-3 record and reached the NCAA Final Four.
Curry graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in business administration management in 1990 and received his teaching certification in 1993 from Stephen F. Austin.
He and his wife Kristy have two daughters, Kelsey and Kendall.
