Jacksonville University Senior Vice President/Athletic Director Alex Ricker-Gilbert and Women’s Basketball Head Coach Darnell Haney mutually agreed to part ways on Wednesday.
Haney served as the program’s head coach for the last five years and spent 10 seasons on the women’s basketball staff overall.
“Thank you to Darnell for all of his hard-work and dedication to the women’s basketball program over the last decade,” said Ricker-Gilbert. “From assisting on staff during the highest-achieving years in the program’s history to leading as the head coach the last five seasons, he invested a lot here at JU and we wish him the best going forward.
“Basketball is a priority here at JU and we feel that this program can contend on a championship level again going forward.”
Haney compiled a 64-75 record at the helm, with the team’s best season coming in 2019-20, when the Dolphins went 18-12, won 10 games in ASUN play and were awaiting a potential postseason berth when the season ended due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Four players earned All-ASUN recognition during his time as head coach.
Haney started at JU in the 2013-14 season as an assistant on former head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin’s staff, and played an integral role in helping the women’s basketball program to its most successful stretch in history. He served as Associate Head Coach for two seasons prior to being elevated to the head role following McPhee-McCuin’s departure to become the head coach at Ole Miss.
During his time as an assistant, the team made three consecutive postseason appearances, including capturing the 2015-16 ASUN Women’s Basketball Championship to earn the program’s first NCAA Tournament bid. The following two seasons, the team received at-large bids to the WNIT.
“My family and I are extremely thankful to President Tim Cost and Alex Ricker-Gilbert for the opportunity to have led the Jacksonville University Women’s Basketball program,” said Haney. “We appreciate our staff and each one of our players over the years for their support and work ethic on behalf of this program.
“I wish Jacksonville all the best as they move forward. It is a special place, and my family and I will always cherish our time as Dolphins.”
A nationwide search for the program’s next head coach begins immediately.
