The Three Pillars that Pauline Love is Building for Alabama WBB

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama women's basketball has its head coach for the future.

It was announced on Wednesday that former Oklahoma associate head coach Pauline Love would replace Kristy Curry, who left the program on March 24 for the USF job. Love had her introductory press conference on Thursday morning, and she addressed many important factors that led to her becoming the Crimson Tide's next head coach.

But one asset that stuck out was the principles that she'll initiate among Alabama's players and assistants.

"Our program will be built on three pillars: toughness, togetherness and trust," Love said. "Toughness is how we will compete physically and mentally every single day. Togetherness is how we will stay connected through adversity, through success and through everything. And trust will allow us to perform at our very best when it matters the most.

"You will see a team that plays hard, plays fast and plays for each other. A team that embraces the challenge of competing in the SEC and represents Alabama with pride. We're going to build a program that develops great players, but more importantly, great people. A program where accountability is real, relationships matter and a standard to live every single day."

Before her time in Norman, Oklahoma, Love was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Alabama women's basketball. Love served as the program’s recruiting coordinator and helped lead the Crimson Tide to a 24-8 record and a second-round appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Under her guidance, Alabama landed four top-100 recruits in the 2025 class and produced two WBCA All-Americans in Sarah Ashlee Barker and Aaliyah Nye.

She held the same title at Arkansas for several years after serving as the assistant coach at Southern Miss from 2013-17. Love started her coaching career as an assistant coach at McNeese.

As a player at Southern Miss from 2007-10, Love earned three All-Conference USA First Team selections and remains among the program’s all-time leaders in scoring average, rebounding average, field goals made and minutes played. She began her collegiate career at Jones College before transferring to Southern Miss and later played one season with the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun.

Love's three pillars are something that she truly lives by, and although she didn't create the mantra, her time at Southern Miss played a role.

"Someone reminded me of the 3 Ts and said 'T, T, T,' and she was like, 'That's special, because Southern Miss.' I was like, 'Yeah, you're right. Southern Miss to the top.' That did not cross my mind. Those 3 Ts are what shaped me and who I am today.

"And I feel like, if I can get through adversity and get through some tough things and make it to where I am, I can build that. So those are going to forever be my pillars, that's what I'm going to believe in."

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