Photo Courtesy of USF Athletics
By Isabella Perez
The South Florida Bulls previewed the 2026-2027 college basketball season during the American Conference Tipoff on Oct. 12 in Tampa.
The tipoff, which welcomed players and coaches from all 13 teams in the conference, gave both USF teams the chance to talk about their goals for the upcoming year following a busy off-season.
Both the men’s and women’s teams are welcoming new head coaches and over 20 new players across both programs.
The women’s team closed off the 2025-2026 season with a 20-12 overall record (13-5 in the American). This was their first and only season playing under interim coach Michele Woods-Baxter, who replaced long-time head coach Jose Fernandez.
Fernandez, who led the women’s team for 25 seasons, left USF after accepting an offer to coach in the WNBA for the Dallas Wings. Although Fernandez’s departure left USF facing a huge transition, Woods-Baxter led the Bulls to the American Conference Tournament, where their season ultimately ended in the semi-finals after 51-62 loss to UTSA.
After speculation on whether Woods-Baxter would remain in her position, USF announced on Apr. 6 that Kristi Curry would become the team’s new head coach. Curry, who spent 13 seasons as Alabama’s head coach, has over 100 wins at three different Power 4 programs, and led Alabama to five NCAA Tournament appearances in her last six years with the team.
The hiring of a coach such as Curry is yet another move from USF’s new CEO of Athletics Rob Higgins, who has pushed for new leadership and increased focus towards South Florida’s athletics department.
“I just feel proud to be a part of such an outstanding group of people who care about our sport,” said Curry to ESPN during the American Tipoff. “We’re excited to be here and build on past success and embrace the future.”
Curry’s work during the post-season focused on player recruitment, working alongside fifth-year player Stefanie Ingram to scout for the best possible talent for the team.
“[Ingram] was the chief recruiter,” said Curry. “She did a heck of a job. I’m so proud of this group and what we can become… We are certainly excited about the potential.”
Similarly, the men’s team underwent changes ahead of the new season. On Mar. 25, it was announced that veteran coach Chris Mack would become South Florida’s 13th head coach.
Prior to Mack, USF had named Amir Abdur-Rahim as the men’s basketball head coach. Rahim successfully led the Bulls to their first AP Top 25 ranking and finished the 2024 season with a 25-8 record, tied for best in USF history so far, in addition to achieving their first-ever regular season championship.
Abdur-Rahim tragically passed away on Oct. 24, 2024, with USF posthumously inducting him the Athletic Hall of Fame and naming the Yuengling Center’s student section the Amir Abdur-Rahim Student Section.
After Abdur-Rahim, USF announced that Brian Hodgson would become USF’s 12th head coach. In his lone season with the Bulls, he tied Rahim’s 25-8 record, won the American Conference regular season and tournament championship, and led the Bulls to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012, ultimately losing to Lousville 79-83 in the first round and announcing his departure to become Providence’s head coach shortly thereafter.
Both Abdur Rahim and Hodgson raised USF’s ceiling, but Mack, who was named 2016 coach of the year by the United States Basketball Writers Association, has nine NCAA Tournament appearances (including an Elite Eight appearance), led Lousville to a No.1 AP Top 25 poll ranking, and led the College of Charleston to a second-place conference finish in the 2025-2026 season.
“The expectation is just to be an everyday guy. Meaning to have the same energy, the same effort and approach from each and every one of our players” Mack told The Crow’s Nest. “…The results will take care of themselves when you have people who care about the right things.”
With both teams working through new coaching staff and players, success is the expectation for the Bulls on both ends of the basketball program. The effort put forward by previous coaches has set a new standard for South Florida basketball moving forward.
“All of our guys are about the right things; they have the right attitudes, so on the floor it meshes well,” guard Mike James told The Crow’s Nest.
Both the women’s and the men’s team are set to tipoff their season on Nov. 2. The women’s team is facing Furman University at 5 p.m., and the men’s team is facing Charleston Southern at 7 p.m., with both games available to stream on ESPN+.
