OMAHA – Adrian Dowell, Omaha Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics, announced on Sunday that Jamie Carey has been hired as the Mavericks’ 10th head coach in women’s basketball history.
Carey replaces Carrie Banks, who was fired on April 22 after a 51-89 record in five seasons.
Carey, a former WNBA player and collegiate standout at Texas and Stanford, begins her new role immediately.
“We are proud to welcome Jamie Carey as the new leader of our women’s basketball program,” Dowell stated in a press release. “Coach Carey brings us a wealth of experience at the highest level of collegiate athletics, both as a coach and a student-athlete, in addition to her WNBA playing career.
Throughout her coaching career and during the interview process, Coach Carey has demonstrated a strong commitment to holistically developing student-athletes while pursuing competitive success. We are excited about the program’s future under her leadership.”
Carey comes to Omaha after serving as associate head coach at UTSA. The Roadrunners won the 2024-25 American Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship for the first time in program history, finishing 26-5 overall and 17-1 in conference play.
Under Carey’s leadership, UTSA made consecutive postseason appearances, earning bids to the WNIT in 2024 and the WBIT in 2025.
“I could not be more excited for the opportunity to lead the Omaha women’s basketball program,” Carey told me. “Throughout this process, Adrian Dowell and his staff shared with me their vision and passion for the direction of UNO Athletics.
I have been impressed by the current success of the department’s teams and hope to contribute to it! I can not wait to get to campus, connect with the Omaha community, and begin the process of growing Mavericks women’s basketball.
Carey’s coaching stops include North Texas, Colorado, and her alma mater, Texas, where she worked alongside longtime mentor Karen Aston. From 2016 to 2020, Carey led the Longhorns to three NCAA Championship appearances, including two Sweet 16 runs, and coached several WNBA draft picks.
She also helped Texas land two top-three nationally ranked recruiting classes and develop 13 All-Big 12 performers.
“The Omaha women’s basketball program has an absolute star as their new head coach,” said Aston, who is currently the head coach at UTSA. “What distinguishes Jamie is her ability to connect with people one-on-one and bring out the best in them. She is a champion in every way and, more importantly, a role model and advocate for women in sports.”
Carey, a Colorado native and two-time USA Basketball medalist, was Stanford’s Pac-10 Rookie of the Year in 1999-00 before transferring to Texas, where she was a two-time Naismith Trophy finalist, earned First Team All-Big 12 honors twice, and led the Longhorns to the Final Four in 2003.
Carey, a 2005 WNBA Draft pick, spent four seasons with the Connecticut Sun, making it to the WNBA Finals.
“I would like to thank Adrian and his staff, along with Chancellor (Joanne) Li, for this opportunity,” Carey told the crowd. “It is time to get to work!”