Jacksonville State Hires Legendary Girls Basketball Coach

Ricky Austin, a 9-time state champion, takes over the Gamecocks women's program.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 6:00pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the dynamic motion and energy of a girls' basketball game, with overlapping planes of navy, green, and red creating a sense of fractured movement and competition.The arrival of legendary high school coach Ricky Austin brings a new era of championship-caliber expectations to the Jacksonville State women's basketball program.Spring Garden Today

Jacksonville State University has hired Ricky Austin, a legendary high school girls basketball coach who led Spring Garden High School to 9 state championships over 29 seasons, to take over their women's basketball program.

Why it matters

Austin's decorated career and proven track record of developing talented players make him an exciting hire for Jacksonville State as they look to elevate their women's basketball program. His arrival is expected to bring renewed energy and championship-level expectations to the Gamecocks.

The details

After 29 successful seasons leading the Spring Garden High School girls basketball team, including 9 state championships, Ricky Austin has been named the new head coach of the Jacksonville State University women's basketball team. The move comes just a week after Austin was inducted into the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as one of the state's all-time great coaches.

  • On March 30, 2026, Jacksonville State University announced the hiring of Ricky Austin as their new women's basketball head coach.
  • Austin spent the previous 29 seasons as the head coach of the Spring Garden High School girls basketball team.

The players

Ricky Austin

A legendary high school girls basketball coach who led Spring Garden High School to 9 state championships over 29 seasons before being hired as the new head coach of the Jacksonville State University women's basketball team.

Jacksonville State University

A public university located in Jacksonville, Alabama that competes in Division I athletics as part of the ASUN Conference. Their women's basketball team has hired Ricky Austin as their new head coach.

Spring Garden High School

A public high school located in Spring Garden, Alabama where Ricky Austin spent the previous 29 seasons as the head coach of the girls basketball team, winning 9 state championships.

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What’s next

Austin is expected to be formally introduced as the new head coach of the Jacksonville State women's basketball team in the coming days.

The takeaway

The hiring of Ricky Austin, a proven winner at the high school level, signals Jacksonville State's commitment to elevating their women's basketball program and competing for championships at the Division I level.