Georgia promotes Crenshaw to women's head coach

Georgia Bulldogs UGA logo
Georgia Bulldogs UGA logo

Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity went down the bench to find the successor to women's basketball coach Andy Landers.

Joni Crenshaw, a Lady Bulldogs assistant the past four seasons, was tabbed Sunday to guide a program that has made five Final Four appearances but still seeks its first national championship. Landers retired last month after compiling an 862-229 record in 36 seasons.

"After a national search, it became evident that Joni was the perfect person to lead our program," McGarity said in a released statement. "Joni brings the intangibles that parallel success -- character, experience and a tireless energy to lead our program. We are confident she will do a tremendous job leading Georgia basketball into the future."

Crenshaw, who has worked the past three seasons with the title of associate head coach, played in the Southeastern Conference at Alabama and helped the Crimson Tide to the 1998 and '99 NCAA tournaments and to the WNIT in 2000 and '01. She coached at Alabama from 2008 to '10 and spent the 2010-11 season at LSU.

"I have been fortunate to have learned under a great coaching tree and have great mentors along the way," Crenshaw said. "I want to thank Coach Landers for all that he has done for me since I have been under his tutelage. The trust and responsibility he gave me definitely prepared me for the next step in my career, but, more importantly, his friendship means the world to me."

Said Landers: "Georgia basketball is in great hands. Coach Crenshaw is a person who has deep-rooted values and morals, which are two of the cornerstones of Georgia basketball's success."

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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