After leading Jacksonville University to its first National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament appearance in the program's history this season, the university signed women's head coach Yolett McCuin, who also heads the Bahamas senior national team, to a new contract on Friday evening.
Although the terms of the new deal weren't disclosed to the public, the school did release that the contract runs through 2020.
"We are ecstatic to have "Coach Yo" leading our women's basketball program for another four years,'' Chief Athletics Officer/Athletic Director Dr. Donnie Horner said. "She and her staff have created a high performing, championship caliber team that excels in academics, athletics, and citizenship.''
With McCuin at the helm of the program the past three years, the JU women's team has seen steady improvement in each of those years, finishing this season with an impressive 22-10 regular season record, going 11-3 in conference play. They earned their first ever tournament bid after upsetting Florida Gulf Coast in the championship game of the A-Sun conference tournament.
"I am incredibly humbled and blessed to have the opportunity to continue to teach, develop, and inspire the student-athletes here at Jacksonville University,'' McCuin said. "I would like to thank President Cost and Dr. Horner for their commitment and I look forward to building on the success we've had thus far.''
Although she and her team were able to make history for the school, McCuin now has her sites set on even bigger goals, particularly advancing past the first round of the tournament.
"My staff and team have completely bought into the culture that we are establishing here, and my family and I are appreciative of the overwhelming support we've received from the University and City of Jacksonville,'' she said. "Winning the A-Sun Championship and creating history was an amazing experience, but it's only the beginning. I am very proud to be a member of the Dolphin family and excited for our future.''
In her first year at JU, Coach McCuin directed the Dolphins to an overall record of 13-17. A 67-65 victory over Mercer at the end of the season earned the Dolphins the No. 4 seed in the A-Sun Tournament, an achievement not seen since the 2008-09 campaign, and provided the team the right to host a quarter-final game. The accolades earned McCuin a nomination for the WBCA (Women's Basketball Coaches Association) Maggie Dixon Rookie Coach of the Year Award.
Randy Smith
Guardian Staff Reporter
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