North Carolina Central University has hired Olivia Gaines as its new head women's basketball coach, introducing her Wednesday at a campus news conference.
Gaines comes to Durham off back-to-back winning seasons at Allen University, where she compiled a 36-19 overall record and developed the program's first SIAC Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honorees. That tenure alone would be a strong resume. Her earlier stops make it remarkable. At Richard Bland, she guided the program to a 29-3 record and an NJCAA national championship game appearance in its very first season. At USC Salkehatchie, she went 20-2 and claimed a Region 10 title, earning Region 10 Coach of the Year.
NCCU Director of Athletics Dr. Louis "Skip" Perkins called Gaines "a proven winner at every level" and said she is the right coach to elevate the Eagles.
Gaines played guard at South Carolina under coach Dawn Staley, and that background shapes how she intends to run things in Durham. Her system is transition-heavy, built around quick hitters, man-to-man defense, and full-court pressure. Player relationships sit at the center of her philosophy. She said she plans to install the identity immediately.
The challenge is real. NCCU finished 9-20 last season. Gaines is not worried.
"I'm big on manifesting," she said. "I'm definitely going to win."