Kelly Rae Finley will no longer be the head coach of Florida women’s basketball as of today, per an official statement released by the University Athletic Association. The decision comes after a five-year partnership.
This season, she led the team through a tumultuous 18-15 (5-11 SEC) record, which followed three consecutive years of 5-11 records in Southeastern Conference play.
“We are grateful for Coach Finley’s commitment to the program and the student-athletes during her time in Gainesville and wish her and her family the very best moving forward,” UF athletic director Scott Stricklin said.
Finley was named the ninth head coach in program history in 2022 and has posted a 93-75 (30-50 SEC) overall record. She began as interim head coach near the end of the 2021-22 season, where she led the Gators to an NCAA Tournament appearance. The program hasn’t returned since.
“I’d like to thank the administration for entrusting me with the development of Florida’s women’s basketball team over these past four-plus seasons,” Finley said. “I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to work with a number of amazing coaches, support staff and boosters during my time in Gainesville who believed in what we were doing to put Florida women’s basketball back on the map.”
A national search for the next head coach is underway.
"The University of Florida is committed to building a women's basketball program that consistently reaches the NCAA Tournament and competes among the top teams in the Southeastern Conference," Stricklin said. "This search is an important opportunity to identify a leader who will recruit and develop outstanding student-athletes, build strong connections within our community, and elevate the program to meet the expectations UF has for all 21 of our sports.”
Contact Isis Snow at isnow@alligator.org. Follow her on X @isis_snoww.
Isis is a senior sports journalism student who is in her fourth semester at The Alligator. She previously has written for the Avenue desk and has covered the Florida volleyball beat. She also has experience in live broadcast reporting with WUFT. Despite hailing from Las Vegas, Nevada, she is a life-long Michigan and Detroit Lions fan. To make up for the emotional toll of being a fan of those teams, you will often find her in the gym weight lifting and playing basketball.
