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USF Coach Kristy Curry Named to Coach of the Year List

South Florida coach Kristy Curry earns spot on the 2027 Kathy Delaney-Smith Mid-Major Coach of the Year preseason watch list.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Basketball

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South Florida head coach Kristy Curry was named to the preseason watch list for the 2027 Kathy Delaney-Smith Mid-Major Coach of the Year award. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should college basketball fans prioritize coach performance in annual awards like the Mid-Major Coach of the Year?

Her Hoop Stats has named South Florida head coach Kristy Curry to its preseason watch list for the 2027 Kathy Delaney-Smith Mid-Major Coach of the Year award. Curry is one of 20 coaches selected for the initial list, representing one of two American Athletic Conference coaches included.

Why it matters

The recognition highlights early-season expectations for Curry as she leads the South Florida program following her hire in 2026. Coaches on the list are evaluated throughout the season on performance, roster management, and recruiting to determine the eventual award recipient.

Kristy Curry holds an overall career head coaching record of 554-322. The preseason watch list features 20 coaches across 12 conferences.

The players

Kristy Curry

She serves as the head coach of the South Florida women's basketball team and has compiled 554 career victories.

Her Hoop Stats

This organization tracks women's basketball analytics and administers the Kathy Delaney-Smith Mid-Major Coach of the Year award.

Kathy Delaney-Smith

The award is named in honor of this coach who recorded 630 victories over 40 seasons.

The details

Curry, who was hired by South Florida on March 24, 2026, joins the list alongside peers from various programs nationwide. Voters will narrow the selection to 10 coaches in January and five finalists by March 2027, with the winner announced at the Final Four.

Timeline

  1. March 24, 2026: USF hired Kristy Curry as head coach.

  2. October 29, 2026: Her Hoop Stats announced the watch list.

  3. November 2, 2026: USF tips off the 2026-27 season against Furman.

  4. January 2027: Watch list narrows to 10 candidates.

  5. March 2027: Watch list narrows to five finalists.

Season Trajectory

The selection of Kristy Curry for the Kathy Delaney-Smith Mid-Major Coach of the Year award follows the established annual cycle of the honor's preseason watch list announcement. This inclusion signals high expectations for South Florida as the team enters the 2026-27 season under her leadership.

The recognition sets a benchmark for the team's performance expectations throughout the 2026-27 season. Fans should look for how coaching decisions and rotation changes influence the team's standing in the American Athletic Conference compared to preseason predictions.

The takeaway

Coaching watch lists serve as a barometer for how experts expect programs to evolve over the course of a competitive season. Fans can use these rankings to gauge the tactical trajectory of the team as it navigates conference play.

Further reading

For more on local basketball developments, visit Basketball.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Tampa Free Press.

Live Poll

Should college basketball fans prioritize coach performance in annual awards like the Mid-Major Coach of the Year?