Newly hired North Carolina Central women’s basketball coach Olivia Gaines expressed confidence and urgency during her introductory remarks, promising to rebuild the Eagles into a winning program while emphasizing relationships, community support and player development.
Gaines, who played for Dawn Staley at South Carolina before beginning her coaching career, opened by thanking God, university leadership and her family for helping her reach the opportunity.
“I manifest. I’m a big manifestor,” she said. “It’s something I prayed for. NCCU is somewhere I really want to be.”
She thanked university officials, including athletic department leadership, for believing in her vision and vowed to make the school and community proud.
“We are going to change the culture,” Gaines said. “We are going to win basketball games. I don’t want to take a long time to win basketball games.”
Gaines most recently served as head coach at Division II Allen University, where she won 36 games in two seasons. She replaces Terrance Baxter, who was let go after three seasons at the helm of the Eagles’ women’s basketball program in March.
“I think about my first head coaching job was a JUCO, and now I’m coaching a D-I school,” she said. “I’m forever grateful.”
Throughout the introduction, Gaines repeatedly stressed competitiveness and accountability, telling supporters they would get “a coach who’s gonna grind and go get it.”
“I’m just not used to losing as a player or a coach,” she said. “I’m going to stand on business. I’m going to be all gas, no brakes.”
She also made a direct appeal to alumni and fans to support the program.
“We need alumni. We want you at our games,” she said. “We need your support.”
Gaines explained that her recruiting strategy would focus heavily on talent throughout the Carolinas and neighboring states, particularly North Carolina prospects.
“I’m not turning away no talent, especially if it’s in the state of North Carolina,” she said.
She emphasized that building strong relationships with student-athletes would be central to her coaching philosophy, citing the continued support she receives from former coaches, including South Carolina coach Dawn Staley.
“You have to build relationships with your student-athletes,” she said. “It’s life outside of basketball, and I’m going to be there for them every time.”
Addressing the challenges posed by NIL and financial limitations, the coach acknowledged NCCU may not be able to compete with larger programs financially but said authenticity and culture would remain the program’s selling points.
“If it’s all about the money for the kid, then we’re probably not the school for them,” she said. “I’m going to aim to get kids who actually want to be here at Central.”
