OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Omaha Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Adrian Dowell announced Sunday that Jamie Carey has been hired as the 10th head coach in the history of the Mavericks’ women’s basketball program.
Carey replaces Carrie Banks, who was fired on April 22 after accumulating a 51-89 record over five seasons.
UNO says a national search will begin immediately to find the next head coach of the women’s basketball team.
A former WNBA player and collegiate standout at both Texas and Stanford, Carey officially begins her role effective immediately.
“We are proud to welcome Jamie Carey as the new leader of our women’s basketball program,” Dowell said in a release. “Coach Carey brings us a wealth of experience at the highest level of collegiate athletics both as a coach and student-athlete, coupled with her playing career in the WNBA. Throughout her coaching career and during the interview process, Coach Carey has successfully demonstrated a passion towards holistically developing student-athletes while pursuing competitive success. We are excited for this program’s future under her leadership.”
Carey arrives in Omaha after serving as associate head coach at UTSA. The Roadrunners captured the 2024-25 American Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship—their first in program history—setting program records by finishing 26-5 overall and 17-1 in conference play.
Under Carey’s guidance, UTSA also made back-to-back postseason appearances, earning bids to the WNIT in 2024 and WBIT in 2025.
“I could not be more excited for the opportunity to lead the Omaha women’s basketball program,” Carey said. “Throughout this process, the vision and passion that Adrian Dowell and his staff shared with me speaks volumes for the direction of Athletics at UNO. I have been impressed with the current success amongst all the teams in the department and have a vision of contributing to that success! I cannot wait to get to campus and begin engaging with the Omaha community and start the process of growing Mavericks women’s basketball.”
Carey’s made coaching stops at North Texas, Colorado and her alma mater, Texas, where she served on staff with longtime mentor Karen Aston. From 2016-20, Carey helped lead the Longhorns to three NCAA Championship appearances—including two Sweet 16 runs—and coached multiple WNBA draft picks.
She also helped Texas land two top-three nationally ranked recruiting classes and developed 13 All-Big 12 players.
“The Omaha women’s basketball program has an absolute star as their new head coach,” said Aston, now head coach at UTSA. “Jamie’s ability to connect one-on-one with people and get the best out of them is what sets her apart. She is a champion in every aspect and, more importantly, a role model and advocate for women in athletics.”
A native of Colorado and a two-time medalist with USA Basketball, Carey was the 1999-00 Pac-10 Rookie of the Year at Stanford before transferring to Texas, where she became a two-time Naismith Trophy finalist, earned First Team All-Big 12 honors twice and led the Longhorns to a Final Four appearance in 2003.
A 2005 WNBA Draft pick, Carey played four seasons for the Connecticut Sun, including a run to the WNBA Finals.
“I would like to thank Adrian and his staff, along with Chancellor (Joanne) Li, for this opportunity,” Carey said. “It’s time to get to work!”
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