Oklahoma Women’s Basketball Welcomes Pauline Love as Associate Head Coach
Oklahoma’s head women’s basketball coach, Jennie Baranczyk, has announced the addition of Pauline Love as the associate head coach. Love, with 13 years of coaching experience, is recognized as one of the leading recruiters in the nation, and she brings a wealth of expertise in player development to the Sooners’ program.
A Proven Track Record in the SEC
Love comes to Oklahoma after a successful tenure in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), where she spent the last eight seasons at Arkansas and Alabama. During her time at these institutions, she was instrumental in guiding teams to three NCAA Tournament appearances and coaching players who were selected in the 2025 WNBA Draft.
Coach Baranczyk Expresses Enthusiasm
“We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome Pauline to the OU family,” said Baranczyk. “Her experiences from nearly a decade in the SEC, coupled with her impressive ability to develop elite talent, are invaluable. Moreover, her passion for connecting with student-athletes and staff will undoubtedly elevate our program. We can’t wait to get started with her here in Norman.”
Notable Achievements at Alabama
In her single season at Alabama, Love contributed to the Crimson Tide’s impressive 24–8 record, leading the team to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for only the third time since 2000. As the program’s recruiting coordinator, she successfully recruited four top-100 signees in the 2025 class and mentored two WBCA All-Americans: Sarah Ashlee Barker and Aaliyah Nye.
Success at Arkansas
Before her time in Alabama, Love spent seven seasons with Arkansas under head coach Mike Neighbors. As both an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, she helped lead the Razorbacks to two NCAA Tournament berths and signed three McDonald’s All-Americans. Notably, she played a crucial role in securing transfer Izzy Higginbottom, who led the SEC in scoring in 2024. Under her guidance, seven Razorbacks earned a combined total of 12 All-SEC honors.
Love’s Personal Insights
“I’m incredibly honored and excited to join the Oklahoma women’s basketball program,” Love stated. “This is a special opportunity to be part of a tradition-rich program with high standards, strong leadership, and a clear vision for success. I’ve learned so much from the amazing coaches I’ve worked alongside and I’m looking forward to continuing that growth under Coach Baranczyk. I can’t wait to get to Norman, meet our team, and start building relationships as we work together to chase championships.”
Background and Coaching Philosophy
A native of Luxora, Arkansas, Love began her coaching career at McNeese State before moving to Southern Miss, where she also played her final three collegiate seasons. As a standout forward, she ranks among the all-time leaders in scoring average, rebounding average, field goals made, and minutes played at Southern Miss. Love is a three-time first-team All-Conference USA selection and briefly played for the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun.
Honors and Recognition
Love has been honored with inductions into three hall of fames: the Southern Miss M-Club Hall of Fame, the Jones College Hall of Fame, and the Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame.
