Allen University welcomes former Gamecock as new head women’s basketball coach

Allen University welcomes Olivia Gaines as new head women’s basketball coach

Photo: Allen University

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)–  Allen University has announced a former Gamecock as its new women’s basketball head coach.

Former Gamecock Olivia Gaines was welcomed as the Yellow Jackets’ new Women’s Basketball Head Coach.

Gaines is arriving to the position of head coach at the university after being an assistant coach at Georgia Southern for the 2023-2024 season.

Prior to her stop in Statesboro, she served as the head coach at Richard Bland College in Petersburg, Virginia, where she led the team in their inaugural season to an NJCAA Division II National Runner-Up finish and a 29-3 overall record.

“Allen has been my dream job for a long time, and I am looking forward to continuing my career in my home state. I would like to thank our Director of Athletics Jasher Cox and President Dr. McNealy for believing in me as they are leading Allen University in the right direction,” states Gaines.

The South Carolina native who hails from Chester has also coached for multiple colleges and highs in the Palmetto state.

Gaines spent two seasons playing for the University of South Carolina, winning the 2014 SEC Regular Season Championship and the 2015 SEC Tournament Title while advancing to the 2015 NCAA Division I Tournament Final Four. Before spending her final two seasons at South Carolina, Gaines had a two-year career at Louisburg College in North Carolina.

“Coach Gaines is the perfect match for our university, its student-athletes, and I am delighted to welcome her back to Columbia,” said Allen Director of Athletics Jasher Cox.