Memphis Hires Hana Haden as New Women's Basketball Coach

The 33-year-old is known for her intense, no-nonsense approach to the game.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 11:15am

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Hana Haden, a 33-year-old former junior college player and assistant coach, has been named the new head coach of the University of Memphis women's basketball team. Haden, who previously served as an assistant at Missouri State, is known for her demanding, 'all business' coaching style.

Why it matters

The Memphis women's basketball program has struggled in recent years, winning just 12 games over the past two seasons. Haden's hiring represents an effort to turn the program around with a disciplined, high-intensity approach.

The details

Haden played for coach Gary Koch at Mineral Area College in Missouri, where she developed a reputation as an intense, hard-nosed player. After graduating, she joined Koch's coaching staff and has spent the last seven years as an assistant at the Division I level, including the past three seasons at Missouri State.

  • Haden was hired as the new Memphis women's basketball coach on March 30, 2026.
  • She will begin her new role effective immediately, ahead of the 2026-27 season.

The players

Hana Haden

The 33-year-old is the new head coach of the University of Memphis women's basketball team, known for her demanding, intense coaching style.

Gary Koch

Haden's former coach at Mineral Area College, where she played as a sophomore. Koch is a longtime high school and junior college coach in Missouri who retired with over 600 wins.

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What they’re saying

“That's one you cry in your beer, literally,”

— Gary Koch, Haden's former coach

What’s next

Haden will begin assembling her coaching staff and recruiting players to join the Memphis program ahead of the 2026-27 season.

The takeaway

Haden's hiring represents a new, no-nonsense approach for the Memphis women's basketball team as they look to turn around a struggling program. Her intense, demanding coaching style is aimed at instilling discipline and a winning culture.